Viewpoint: Motorcycle helmets can do more harm than good
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Viewpoint: Motorcycle helmets can do more harm than good
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/...606180303/1020
Published - June, 18, 2006
Viewpoint: Motorcycle helmets can do more harm than good
Zeno Weir
The tragic automobile incident of an at-fault driver violating the right of way of motorcyclist and football star Ben Roethlisberger has invited comment by the Safetycrats.
Their specious reasoning is that if Roethlisberger had been wearing a helmet he would have been spared injuries. Ironically, the leading cause of death in motorcycle crash incidents is chest trauma.
Helmets often do more harm than good, yet the Safetycrats advocate mandatory usage rather than jail time for idiots and drunks in cars who slaughter innocent motorcyclists. If Roethlisberger had been wearing a helmet, it could very well have induced a basalar skull fracture, killing him.
After 28 years of riding a Harley-Davidson all over the good ole U.S. of A, I have developed a hate of itchy, hot, heavy, sight- and hearing-restricting helmets. Helmets are as likely to kill a rider as save the rider's skull as long as the impact exceeds 15 miles per hour, since that's all any helmet is rated for.
The danger of helmet usage in a crash incident is that the weight of the helmet is multiplied many times and induces basalar skull fracture.
NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt, Kenny Irwin and Adam Petty all suffered basalar skull fractures. Today's NASCAR drivers have their head gear restrained to prevent this fatal injury.
This is not possible on motorcycles.
On March 27, 2003, at about 6:30 p.m. I was riding my Harley on Gulf Beach Highway when I was rear-ended by a distracted "soccer mommy" who fled the incident scene.
Always watching my "six" under the "all cars are guilty until proven innocent" Zeno rule, I saw that the automobile was not even going to hit its brakes, and I accelerated and banked away. Flying through the air, I endeavored to "slide into second base" and suffered a separated shoulder, torn rotator cuff and, eventually, had a hip replacement.
My helmet was of no factor in this incident, but it did nearly break my neck. It still hurts and is stiff to this day. As I was lying there, trying not to move to prevent paralysis, I wondered if my neck were broken, and then had to threaten to shoot the volunteer fireman who insisted upon removing my helmet before I was properly boarded and head-restrained by the well-trained EMT team.
The LifeFlight ride was really nice. I would like to thank Trooper Matthew Freeman of the Florida Highway Patrol, whose diligence brought "soccer mommy" to jail. I would also like to thank Assistant State Attorney Lee Robertson for demanding and getting jail time for "soccer mommy," and a big thanks to Gulf Coast Orthopedics.
Bikers all hate to see another person hurt or killed, at any time. We can learn from the tragic deaths of the NASCAR heroes that helmets can be deadly.
Occasionally, they do prevent injuries. I have had rocks bounce off of mine. Perhaps, as more and more real medical information is shown to the public, they will begin to see that helmets don't always save lives, but can kill or inflict serious injury.
Mandatory helmet laws do nothing to prevent accidents or make motorcyclists safer. If the Safetycrats want to pass laws, try increased penalties for the motorists who maim or kill bikers and who are at fault in the vast majority of motorcycle-automobile incidents.
If the State of Pennsylvania would jail the at-fault driver who maimed Roethlisberger, that would coerce some drivers to "Look Twice for Motorcycles and Save a Life."
Zeno Weir is a Realtor, a resident of Pensacola and a longtime motorcycle rider.
Do you guys believe this fucking tard? please feel free to write the newspaper and inform them of there ignorance. as members from a local forum have already began to.
This is not my writing but a fellow rider from the local forums
Published - June, 18, 2006
Viewpoint: Motorcycle helmets can do more harm than good
Zeno Weir
The tragic automobile incident of an at-fault driver violating the right of way of motorcyclist and football star Ben Roethlisberger has invited comment by the Safetycrats.
Their specious reasoning is that if Roethlisberger had been wearing a helmet he would have been spared injuries. Ironically, the leading cause of death in motorcycle crash incidents is chest trauma.
Helmets often do more harm than good, yet the Safetycrats advocate mandatory usage rather than jail time for idiots and drunks in cars who slaughter innocent motorcyclists. If Roethlisberger had been wearing a helmet, it could very well have induced a basalar skull fracture, killing him.
After 28 years of riding a Harley-Davidson all over the good ole U.S. of A, I have developed a hate of itchy, hot, heavy, sight- and hearing-restricting helmets. Helmets are as likely to kill a rider as save the rider's skull as long as the impact exceeds 15 miles per hour, since that's all any helmet is rated for.
The danger of helmet usage in a crash incident is that the weight of the helmet is multiplied many times and induces basalar skull fracture.
NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt, Kenny Irwin and Adam Petty all suffered basalar skull fractures. Today's NASCAR drivers have their head gear restrained to prevent this fatal injury.
This is not possible on motorcycles.
On March 27, 2003, at about 6:30 p.m. I was riding my Harley on Gulf Beach Highway when I was rear-ended by a distracted "soccer mommy" who fled the incident scene.
Always watching my "six" under the "all cars are guilty until proven innocent" Zeno rule, I saw that the automobile was not even going to hit its brakes, and I accelerated and banked away. Flying through the air, I endeavored to "slide into second base" and suffered a separated shoulder, torn rotator cuff and, eventually, had a hip replacement.
My helmet was of no factor in this incident, but it did nearly break my neck. It still hurts and is stiff to this day. As I was lying there, trying not to move to prevent paralysis, I wondered if my neck were broken, and then had to threaten to shoot the volunteer fireman who insisted upon removing my helmet before I was properly boarded and head-restrained by the well-trained EMT team.
The LifeFlight ride was really nice. I would like to thank Trooper Matthew Freeman of the Florida Highway Patrol, whose diligence brought "soccer mommy" to jail. I would also like to thank Assistant State Attorney Lee Robertson for demanding and getting jail time for "soccer mommy," and a big thanks to Gulf Coast Orthopedics.
Bikers all hate to see another person hurt or killed, at any time. We can learn from the tragic deaths of the NASCAR heroes that helmets can be deadly.
Occasionally, they do prevent injuries. I have had rocks bounce off of mine. Perhaps, as more and more real medical information is shown to the public, they will begin to see that helmets don't always save lives, but can kill or inflict serious injury.
Mandatory helmet laws do nothing to prevent accidents or make motorcyclists safer. If the Safetycrats want to pass laws, try increased penalties for the motorists who maim or kill bikers and who are at fault in the vast majority of motorcycle-automobile incidents.
If the State of Pennsylvania would jail the at-fault driver who maimed Roethlisberger, that would coerce some drivers to "Look Twice for Motorcycles and Save a Life."
Zeno Weir is a Realtor, a resident of Pensacola and a longtime motorcycle rider.
Do you guys believe this fucking tard? please feel free to write the newspaper and inform them of there ignorance. as members from a local forum have already began to.
This is not my writing but a fellow rider from the local forums
Letter sent
“Viewpoint: The truth about Motorcycle helmets.”
Ben Roethlisberger recent accident has once again stirred the anti-helmet activists. Most experienced, responsible, and educated riders who have had the misfortune of being involved in an accident will tell you their helmet saved their life.
Head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. This statement is fact proven by U.S. Department of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and countless privately and publicly funded studies. Helmet use is the single most important factor governing survival in motorcycle crashes. From 1984 through 2000, NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 10,156 motorcyclists. If all motorcycle operators and passengers had worn helmets during that period, it is estimated that 8,463 additional lives would have been saved.
Helmets are not rated by speed but by the ability to withstand high G-Forces. Helmets in America are required to meet DOT minimum requirements. This standard sets a minimum level of performance designed to protect the head and brain in the event of a crash. The Snell Memorial Foundation also sets voluntary standards for all types of helmets including motorcycle helmets. The Snell standard is more stringent and meets all DOT requirements. Helmets certified to the ECE 22.05 standard are approved for competition events by AMA, CCS, FIM, Formula-USA and WERA and are chosen by nearly every professional motorcycle racers competing in world championship road racing, including the ultimate sport of Moto GP. Helmets have saved the lives of professional motorcycle racers in crashes exceeding 150mph which can generate a tremendous amount of G-Force.
The tragic death of NASCAR drivers is not the same as a motorcyclist. Earnhardt hit a wall head on at close to 200mph; He was strapped in with a 5 point safety harness. The only part of his body that was not strapped in was his head hence the basilar skull fracture. In a majority of motorcycle accidents the rider is ejected from the motorcycle resulting in collisions with fixed objects. This is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities in motorcycle crashes not basilar skull fractures.
Insurance companies lobby against helmet laws because it is cheaper to bury you than it is to treat you. States that have repealed helmet laws have seen an increase in motorcycle crash fatalities while states that have reenacted helmet laws have seen a decrease in motorcycle crash fatalities. Fact is helmets save lives period.
“Viewpoint: The truth about Motorcycle helmets.”
Ben Roethlisberger recent accident has once again stirred the anti-helmet activists. Most experienced, responsible, and educated riders who have had the misfortune of being involved in an accident will tell you their helmet saved their life.
Head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. This statement is fact proven by U.S. Department of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and countless privately and publicly funded studies. Helmet use is the single most important factor governing survival in motorcycle crashes. From 1984 through 2000, NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 10,156 motorcyclists. If all motorcycle operators and passengers had worn helmets during that period, it is estimated that 8,463 additional lives would have been saved.
Helmets are not rated by speed but by the ability to withstand high G-Forces. Helmets in America are required to meet DOT minimum requirements. This standard sets a minimum level of performance designed to protect the head and brain in the event of a crash. The Snell Memorial Foundation also sets voluntary standards for all types of helmets including motorcycle helmets. The Snell standard is more stringent and meets all DOT requirements. Helmets certified to the ECE 22.05 standard are approved for competition events by AMA, CCS, FIM, Formula-USA and WERA and are chosen by nearly every professional motorcycle racers competing in world championship road racing, including the ultimate sport of Moto GP. Helmets have saved the lives of professional motorcycle racers in crashes exceeding 150mph which can generate a tremendous amount of G-Force.
The tragic death of NASCAR drivers is not the same as a motorcyclist. Earnhardt hit a wall head on at close to 200mph; He was strapped in with a 5 point safety harness. The only part of his body that was not strapped in was his head hence the basilar skull fracture. In a majority of motorcycle accidents the rider is ejected from the motorcycle resulting in collisions with fixed objects. This is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities in motorcycle crashes not basilar skull fractures.
Insurance companies lobby against helmet laws because it is cheaper to bury you than it is to treat you. States that have repealed helmet laws have seen an increase in motorcycle crash fatalities while states that have reenacted helmet laws have seen a decrease in motorcycle crash fatalities. Fact is helmets save lives period.
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When I see motorcycle road racers shed their itchy helmets, I may consider that they could possibly be more of a detriment than a boon to my health if I were to be so unfortunate as to wipe out. Until then, I have faith that natural selection will eventually address those that choose otherwise.
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He does sound like a fuckstick saying that helmets do more bad than good, but he is right about one thing; stricter penalties for careless driving. Maybe if it were taken seriously, some people would stop applying make up and/or shaving while driving and we'd see less motorists and riders hurt.
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I totally agree with strickter penaltys but for this to come from our newspaper i think is a pretty bad job of editing. I can see some 18 yr old on his liter bike riding without one because this guy from our newspaper said its safer!!
yea and we need to right all the major bike/motorcycle foundations and let them know that they shouldnt be wearing helmets
yea and we need to right all the major bike/motorcycle foundations and let them know that they shouldnt be wearing helmets
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I also feel there's probably a little truth in his bold statement about helmets only being affective under 15 miles per hour. I couldn't guess at the speed in which a helmet becomes inaffective, but with the stress on meeting DOT and Snell requirements, I'd imagine helmets are more engineered towards passing those tests than being as affective as they could be in a crash. I mean, making and selling helmets, at the root of it all, is a business, right? The bottom of line of any business is profit in today's soulless world.
gone fishin
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I looped a bike when I was younger doing a wheelie, shifting from 3rd to 4th.
My head smacked the ground and did significant visible damage to the helmet.
I had decent road rash and a broken arm... however, no damage to my head.
and I have also been told I am better looking with a full faced helmet on
My head smacked the ground and did significant visible damage to the helmet.
I had decent road rash and a broken arm... however, no damage to my head.
and I have also been told I am better looking with a full faced helmet on
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One of the consequences of such notions as "entitlements" is that people who have contributed nothing to society feel that society owes them something, apparently just for being nice enough to grace us with their presence.”
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Originally Posted by Frankie
I also feel there's probably a little truth in his bold statement about helmets only being affective under 15 miles per hour. I couldn't guess at the speed in which a helmet becomes inaffective, but with the stress on meeting DOT and Snell requirements, I'd imagine helmets are more engineered towards passing those tests than being as affective as they could be in a crash. I mean, making and selling helmets, at the root of it all, is a business, right? The bottom of line of any business is profit in today's soulless world.
true, but with the amount of people that go down, if a certain brand was to show poor workmanship, it would get around quickly, and they would be in for a big treat.
but when you think about it...the vertical velocity of someone coming off a bike is probably right in that range of 15mph...no matter what their speed cumulative velocity is. and i can also understand his fight for basalar injuries, but helmets are only 3-5 lbs or so nowadays..even pulling 2-3G's your talking 15lbs of weight exerted at most, and i cant exactly see that killing someone but im not physiologist.
i will always wear a helmet though. end of story.
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2002 Suzuki Hayabusa
1507 "dry" block
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Yea, that about sums it up...
El Pendejo Loco
2002 Suzuki Hayabusa
1507 "dry" block
Brocks megaphone
Spencercycle 10" swingarm
MPS auto shifter
Hays convertible clutch
Yea, that about sums it up...
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Originally Posted by Sneakin Deacon
but when you think about it...the vertical velocity of someone coming off a bike is probably right in that range of 15mph...no matter what their speed cumulative velocity is. and i can also understand his fight for basalar injuries, but helmets are only 3-5 lbs or so nowadays..even pulling 2-3G's your talking 15lbs of weight exerted at most, and i cant exactly see that killing someone but im not physiologist.
Sneakin Deacon = Big Scientific Word User Guy
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One of the consequences of such notions as "entitlements" is that people who have contributed nothing to society feel that society owes them something, apparently just for being nice enough to grace us with their presence.”
Thomas Sowell (American Writer and Economist, b.1930)
Thomas Sowell (American Writer and Economist, b.1930)
Last edited by Cecil; Jun 19, 2006 at 02:06 PM.
