Tonya and PQBON's WebLog

WEAR YOU HELMET DAMNIT!

Motorcycle deaths rise after helmet-law repeal
The federal study, however, said the rate of fatalities per motorcycle registration in Kentucky increased 37 percent, faster than the increase in the number of registrations, which was 20 percent. The national fatality rate, based on the number of riders killed per 10,000 registered motorcycles, was 6.3 in 2000, compared with 8.2 in Kentucky.

The study did not include 2001 or 2002, but figures obtained from the traffic safety administration show that Kentucky's motorcycle fatality rate increased to 12.77 in 2001.

INDIANA, WHICH repealed its mandatory helmet law in 1977, had a 2001 fatality rate of 5.89.

As of 2000, 44,003 motorcycles were registered in Kentucky, according to administration data, up from 39,901 in 1998 and 36,603 in 1996. Indiana had 118,000 registered motorcycles in 2000, up from 97,000 in 1996.

I honestly can't believe people don't wear helmets even if the law doesn't require it. Hitting the ground at even 30 can kill your head.

This Huber of the Kentucky Motorcycle Association said helmets "can have good and bad effects."

They can protect in some crashes, he said, but also can inhibit the motorcyclist's vision, impair hearing, and in warm weather produce heat stress. pisses me off the most. My full face helmets (in fact all full face helmets since like 1977) gives you the same peripheral view as with out a helmet. And as far as hearing goes... put a muffler on your harley and you will be able to hear. But hearing doesn't play a big part in motorcycle riding. With or with out a helmet. Going 40 miles an hour the wind noise on most bikes actually causes you hearing to shutdown so you brain doesn't have to work so hard (you block out the loud roaring wind, and for the next hour or so you don't hear so good). As for heat stress, get a vented helmet! Wear sun glasses and ride with the visor up or off. That is just a laim excuse truely laim!

Posted by pqbon at October 30, 2003 2:46 PM | TrackBack