Helmet laws for everyone?

[bwheeler111]

Not sure of how this will trickle down to each state, but can't be good if yours doesn't force you to wear you a helmet.

NTSB Synopsis AB07_Motorcycle Safety

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>

Public Meeting of September 11, 2007

Motorcycle Safety Recommendation Letters

Today the Board issued the following safety recommendations:

SAFETY RECOMMENDATION </STRONG>

National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety

To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

1. Reprioritize the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety recommendations based on objective criteria including known safety outcomes.
2. Following completion of the reprioritization of the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety requested in Safety Recommendation H-07-XX, implement an action plan for states and others, such as federal agencies, manufacturers, insurance organizations, and advocacy groups to carry out those recommendations that are determined to be of high priority.

To the 50 states and the District of Columbia:

1. Provide information to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the effectiveness of your motorcycle safety efforts to assist NHTSA with its effort to reprioritize the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety recommendations.

Motorcycle Safety Data

To the Federal Highway Administration:

1. Following the 2007 Motorcycle Travel Symposium, develop guidelines for the states to use to gather accurate motorcycle registrations and motorcycle vehicle miles traveled data. The guidelines should include information on the various methods to collect registrations and vehicle miles traveled data and how these methods can be put into practice.

Motorcycle Helmets

To the three states without motorcycle helmet laws:

1. Require that all persons shall wear a Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218-compliant motorcycle helmet while riding (operating), or as a passenger on any motorcycle.

To the 27 states and 1 territory with partial helmet laws:

1. Amend current laws to require that all persons shall wear a Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218-compliant motorcycle helmet while riding (operating), or as a passenger on any motorcycle.

To the 8 states, the District of Columbia, and the 4 territories that have universal motorcycle helmet laws but do not specifically require FMVSS 218-compliant helmets:

1. Amend current laws to specify that all persons shall wear a Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218-compliant motorcycle helmet while riding (operating), or as a passenger on any motorcycle.

[NoTolerance]

Fuck that noise.

Once again: It is NOT the job of Government to protect ME against MYSELF.

[Goshawk]

Freedom is a figment of the governments imagination.

[Snuffy]

Oh God the dreaded helmet "freedom" safety thread

[bwheeler111]

I didn't start it as a debate or anything. Just to inform all of you folks about the possibility that the states will not have any say in the helmet laws. Who knows what, if any, changes will come from the NTSB decision. Just wanted to get the information out there.

[NoTolerance]

First off, debate is good. It allows those who haven't formulated an opinion on a topic to learn a little more about it.

Second, I'm not real sure how much impact this is going to have. All the NTSB did was send letters of recommendation to the states affected (like mine). I seriously doubt WI is ever going to enforce a helmet law.

[pquirk]

Originally Posted by NoTolerance

First off, debate is good. It allows those who haven't formulated an opinion on a topic to learn a little more about it.

Second, I'm not real sure how much impact this is going to have. All the NTSB did was send letters of recommendation to the states affected (like mine). I seriously doubt WI is ever going to enforce a helmet law.

Agreed on all points, you must be young though, when I grew up in WI ther WAS a helmet law, it was repealed in the ate 70's or early '80s, don't rememer for sure. Your right though I don't think it'll happen there again. If anyone wants to hear real bullshit in Indiana motorcyclists have to pay an EXTRA $10/year for their tags. The money goes to spinal cord injury research; a noble cause and I don't mind paying because of that but I DO mind that bikers are the only ones tapped for it. THAT is bullshit.

[NoTolerance]

Originally Posted by pquirk

Agreed on all points, you must be young though, when I grew up in WI ther WAS a helmet law, it was repealed in the ate 70's or early '80s, don't rememer for sure. Your right though I don't think it'll happen there again. If anyone wants to hear real bullshit in Indiana motorcyclists have to pay an EXTRA $10/year for their tags. The money goes to spinal cord injury research; a noble cause and I don't mind paying because of that but I DO mind that bikers are the only ones tapped for it. THAT is bullshit.

How young is "young"? ;)

I remember the helmet law repeal (though I was too young to be affected by it), which is why I say there's little to no chance of an adult helmet law ever getting passed in this state again.

I don't know what all the studies say about WI where motorcycle awareness is concerned, or even where WI stands in the rankings of the number of riders on the roads per capita, but I know motorcyclist rights are a big thing around here - as is motorcycle awareness.

Any politician who tries slipping something like that through isn't likely to last in office very long.

I'm still amazed we have a seatbelt law! FUD wins again!

Like I said in my first post: I don't feel it is the job of Government to protect me from myself. If what I'm doing doesn't affect anyone else besides me, they should butt out.

What's next: federally mandating cholesterol levels? Telling me how many candy bars I'm allowed to eat in a week to control my obesity? Or will they just keep jacking up the cigarette taxes until the prices get to the point where only the super rich can afford them?

[jamman]

Originally Posted by NoTolerance

Telling me how many candy bars I'm allowed to eat in a week to control my obesity? Or will they just keep jacking up the cigarette taxes until the prices get to the point where only the super rich can afford them?

there should be a "twinkie tax" LOL