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If you live in PA and would like to write the Honorable Gov. Ed Rendell just go to: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/ (copy/paste people) and you will find the link to contact him.

BTW, I’ve never understood the public burden argument when used to oppose helmet choice laws. Of the riders I know who choose to go lidless all of them have great health care as well as long term disability coverage. How would I, if critically injured in a motorcycle accident or auto accident for that matter, cost this "society" a single penny?

 

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nope

 

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Would you post either his email or the link where you found it? I couldn't find any listings for him with Google.



Thanks

 

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Re: Wow! A sane reply!

Of the three most resent replies to my question yours is the only one not spewing bile my way. Thank you for that, 02TriBonnie!

You make a good point about the possible passing on of costs to others. Take for example the great state of Florida. While job hunting a few years ago I was offered a position there so I checked on the costs of living. I had a car at the time so I only have numbers for a new, ’94 sport coupe. The BEST rate I could find was $4,000 per year. That’s with a clean driving record! I asked why the rates were so outrageous and was told point blank that it was due to the large retired community. The guy I was going to replace was driving an ’84 Aries K and he paid $2,000/yr for liability only and that was required by law. It was more than the car was worth but he couldn’t afford to buy a new one because of the high insurance costs.

I think the difference with motorcycles however is that we are still a very small percentage of the motoring public. The insurance lobby would have us believe they’d go broke from all the veg’d out head injuries that would result from all the riders who would go lidless if they weren’t forced by law to wear one. I don’t believe that would happen even though they have implemented a pretty good strategy to make the non riding as well as a few riders believe "everyone will pay".

This strategy makes those who choose to go without a helmet into outcasts among their piers as well as the non riding public. That is unfair as the idea is based on lies and greed.

I could go into other issues but they have been covered more eloquently by others. The only other point I want to make is that in choice states (I live in Oklahoma) many riders still choose to wear a helmet. I am one of those that do. My wife has a sticker on her full face Quantum F that says, "My helmet – My choice".

 

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Many have made similar posts but this is by far the best.



I'm going to take this one step further and say the more "protected" (airbags, belts, etc) and isolated from the dangers of driving a 4,000 lb cage at speed the more invincible the population becomes. They just know that if they crash they will survive.



The same goes for riders. If I wear my one piece 'stitch with, protective boots, gloves and full face helmet the chances of not being injured in a one vehicle accident are greatly improved. It also has the tendency to make me a bit more fearless and to do sh*t that’s not in my best interest.



I wear my helmet because it’s more comfortable to do so not because the law tells me to. If I think it’s going to save me in a crash I just might not see that patch of radiator fluid on the intersection or that car entering my lane on a blind curve with enough time to react.



These are just some things that come to my mind because I have ridden with and without my head in a bucket and they have made me realize I ride differently in both situations.

 

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DataDan kicks B U T T!

As do the facts. Thanks.