I wear a helmet every time out. I am just more confortable wearing a helmet as it reduces noise, reduces eye irritation from the wind, and basically just makes me feel safer on the street. I think wearing a helmet is common sense, but I do not feel we need a helmet law for the same reason I don't think we need many of the laws we currently have today, namely, a helmet law does not protect anyone other than the person making the decision whether or not to wear a helmet. Therefore, a mandatory helmet law infringes on people's Freedom with no reasonable, substantial basis behind it. I also disagree with seat belt laws, as it should be the responsibility of the driver to decide whether or not passengers in their car need to wear a seat belt.

No law should exist without significant evidence that the law is needed to protect the rights of free American citizens. I understand traffic laws as speeding, failure to yeild, running red lights, etc. puts innocent lives at risk. Those innocent people that are following traffic laws have the right to be protected from idiots that are wrecklessly endangering their lives. However, as soon as you start enacting legislation that protects people from themselves, I feel you are infringing on Freedom and restricting people's right to make their own choices in life. Seat belt laws and helmet laws fall into this category as they only protect those that are making the decision to partake in risky behavior, in essence, protecting people from themselves.

I suppose you could argue that accidents with injuries end up costing the general public more money in emergency response, medical insurance, etc. You could also argue that it is dangerous to other passengers in a car if someone decides not to wear their seat belt as their body could go flying into another passenger in an accident. Both of these arguments are valid, but I don't feel they are significant enough to justify limiting individual Freedom. After all, it is the driver's responsibility to protect themselves and those in their vehicle, just as it is the rider's responsibility to make sure they are wearing proper gear. If they do not, they pay the price, as they and only they are at risk.

Anyway, that's my two cents. Personal responsibility is dying in this country. I hate seeing people ask government to step in to fix everyone's problems as government creates more problems than they fix!