ALT-7 Motorcyclists should always Wear Helmets – Disagree
Just for the record, I do not disagree with helmet use completely. I disagree with any governing body (Especially one made up of non-riders.) putting laws in place that make helmet use mandatory. Let's face it. There are times when a good full-face helmet is a very good piece of equipment to have. They keep stinging rain off of your face, bugs that are big enough and hard enough to leave bruises on your face or even cause you to bleed, they are good on the freeway, keeping sand and other road debris coming up off the road from getting in your eyes or causing you harm.
There are also negative points to wearing a helmet, full-face or otherwise. Most helmets are heavy and awkward. They can cause neck fatigue due to this extra weight or awkwardness. They act like a sail on windy days. They cut down your vision and make it harder to hear what is going on around you. This list goes on and on. Some actually argue that helmets kill people in accidents due to the extra weight or mass of the helmet. They argue that they put unnecessary and added stress on the neck in accidents that snap the head backwards.
Although I do not agree with mandatory helmet use, I agree that all riders should be knowledgeable in helmet use. I agree with the helmet law in the state of Rhode Island. People who receive their motorcycle permit are required to wear a helmet and then have to continue wearing a helmet for one year after receiving their motorcycle endorsement. This gives inexperienced riders time to get familiar with their machines, surroundings, road conditions and most importantly, the vehicles they share the road with. Very few new riders are aware of the fact that most people with four wheels or more underneath of them are practically oblivious to the fact that there is a motorcycle in close proximity to them. I had a woman hit me from behind at a red light once, who had been following me for over 15 miles! Her excuse? She did not see me!
Experienced riders should be educated enough o know when wearing a helmet is a good idea and when conditions are considerable enough to maybe leave it in their saddlebag or strapped to the back of their bike. Passengers (as is the case in most states.) should always be required to wear a helmet. Helmets should never be left at home, not even in the states that have no helmet laws. Keep the shiny side up, and let those who ride, decide.
