Helmets__Choice_or_Law

Gabreail Velez Comp. 1 04625 Rogerian Argument 07/16/2012 Helmets: Choice or Law' There are over 6,000,000 motorcycles registered in the US and with the rising of off road bikes it’s approximated that more than 7,000,000 people ride a bike at least once a year. Motorcycles are becoming more established than ever with the X Games hosted every year in the US, promoting motocross as a highly enjoyable recreational sport. People enjoy these vehicles for recreational hobbies, collecting, and some just like to feel the freedom of the open road. Although these hogs are entertaining for many people, they pose a serious threat when not accompanied by the proper equipment. In the last nine months of 2011 there were 3,580 motorcycle fatalities in America. Helmets are by far the single most effective method to prevent motorcycle fatalities and serious injuries (Hedlund). In 2011, 44 percent of motorcycle fatalities were not wearing helmets. The NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,829 motorcyclists’ lives last year, and could have saved 822 of the unhelmeted motorists’. These numbers have raised a question of some importance: should the government intrude on citizens own discretion by invoking a country-wide helmet law' Although helmets have drawbacks such as hearing and vision impairment, discomfort, and being undesirable, helmets can save your life and wearing them should be enforced. Helmets do have some imperfections, despite all the benefits. Helmets are considered undesirable especially to younger generations who don’t tend to care about safety. While safety is important, if a product doesn’t appeal to people they aren’t going to use it. This seems to be the case with most safety equipment such as seat belts, bicycle helmets, and elbow and knee pads. However, there are more substantial drawbacks such as vision and hearing impairment. When wearing full coverage helmets drivers’ peripheral vision is obscured, limiting safety for cyclists and other drivers. Not being able to hear is also a great danger to drivers. If an emergency vehicle is headed towards the biker and they aren’t able to hear it coming, they could slow the vehicle down or cause an even worse emergency with a collision. The final argument is lack of comfort. If drivers are unable to enjoy riding their motorcycle due to discomfort what’s the point of owning one. Most riders want to feel free and exhilarated when on their bike, but discomfort and exhilaration are not two words that work well together. Even though these arguments are credible, many head injuries could be avoided with helmets, even if they aren’t desirable. In Lafayette, NY 55 year old Phillip Contos was part of a protest against motorcycle helmets. The protesters were part of group called ABATE (American Bikers Aimed for Education), they believe in choice and that riders know the risks when they ride without a helmet. At about 1:30 p.m. the group rallied to make the point that they didn’t need their helmets as they drove down route 11. According to the troopers, Contos suddenly hit the brakes and lost control of the bike. He was thrown over his handlebars and hit the pavement as his 1993 Harley Davidson skidded towards the guardrail (Turner). Contos was still alive when crews arrived on the scene. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police say that based on the evidence from the scene and doctors, Contos would have survived had he been wearing a DOT-approved helmet (Turner). The irony in this incident is unbelievable, people don’t always make the right decision based on desire and that’s why a law should be passed to wear helmets to enforce the safety of the citizens. A recent study assessed the effects that motorcycle helmets have upon seeing and hearing were only a slight inconvenience and did not present any danger. The test had 50 people run a test route with three helmet conditions: none, partial coverage, and full coverage. The results showed that subjects in the vision study increased the degree of head rotation in proportion to the vision restriction imposed by the helmets, though not to the full extent of restriction (McKnight). The restriction of the drivers’ vision causing them to turn further is there and can make the driver feel more uncomfortable, but is this slight discomfort worth your life' The hearing portion of the study concluded that there was no difference in the hearing threshold over the three helmet conditions. Therefore these conditions make for a great argument, but the effects of the helmet upon the ability to see and hear are too limited to trade-off the safety of helmets It has been argued that helmets are uncomfortable, while this may have been the case ten years ago with big bulky helmets, today we have much lighter form fitting head gear. Helmets are more fitted to the drivers head, allowing more comfort and even offering a better barrier from bugs and the cold. Experts say that the fit of a motorcycle helmet is crucial to the comfort and enjoyment of the rider’s helmet. It also plays a critical role in the performance of a driver’s helmet in the event of an accident. Many established companies like Iron Horse Helmets and Revzilla can provide a biker with the perfect helmet made accustomed to their wants and needs. The benefits of wearing head protection while riding a motorcycle immensely outweigh the disadvantages. Ergo, such helmets should be required by law on all public roads. With advancement being made in comfort, stylishness, and effectiveness in the industry, there is no defense left for motorcyclists not to wear them. These types of laws could save so many lives and possibly tax dollars spent on medical costs by people who receive brain damage due to head trauma from an accident. It would be to the benefit of everyone if the U.S. government would place a country-wide law to wear a helmet. I hope a law will be established so many more years of safe and fun motorcycling can take place.