According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Administration, helmet laws for motorcyclists in Missouri and the surrounding states are not consistent. For example, while everyone riding a motorcycle in Missouri must wear an appropriate helmet, Oklahoma and Arkansas have partial helmet laws. In Oklahoma, only those younger than 18 are required by law to wear them, while in Arkansas, the age limit is 21. Whether it is a legal requirement or not, there are plenty of reasons for all riders to wear a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Prevent head injuries The most obvious reason for a person to wear a helmet on a motorcycle is to protect the head in an accident. Riders are more vulnerable than motorists in a crash, the Washington Post …show more content…
During the ride itself, it can actually help prevent hearing loss, according to Motorcycle.com. The main thing a rider hears after crossing 40 miles per hour is the wind whipping past the ears. On the highway, that increases exponentially, so the rider is basically hearing constant white noise that is as loud as gasoline-powered lawn equipment. Helmet manufacturers are at work to improve designs to prevent permanent hearing loss for riders, but any helmet that covers the ears is better than no helmet at all. Provide visibility The Skilled Motorcyclist Association urges riders to take steps to make them easier for others to see. Many crashes involving another vehicle occur because a negligent motorist simply failed to see the motorcycle. One safety trick is wearing a helmet that is white or includes bright colors. This improves the rider’s chances of being noticed, which lessens the risk of an accident significantly. While wearing a helmet can improve a rider’s chances of surviving an accident, it is not a failsafe. In a motorcycle accident, any evidence that the victim can gather is helpful in ensuring that the negligent, careless or reckless driver is held responsible. Hiring a personal injury attorney may increase the chances that compensation for the damages covers medical bills, especially when long-term care is
In Title 23, Chapter 316.211 of Florida’s constitution, the law states that “A person may not operate or ride upon a motorcycle unless the person is properly wearing protective headgear securely fastened upon his or her head which complies with Federal Motorcycle Vehicle Safety Standard 218 promulgated by the United States Department of Transportation.2” The Florida statue is actually more stringent on helmet laws than Vermont’s statue. In Florida, a person cannot operate/ride a motorcycle without helmet, while in Vermont it’s only regulated while riding a motorcycle on
ASTM Sports Headgear and Helmets Standards. 2014. ASTM Sports Headgear and Helmets Standards. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.astm.org/SNEWS/NOVEMBER_2004/swart_nov04.html. [Accessed 20 March 2014].
2. Motorcycle fatality rates due to riding without a helmet are quickly rising. Nationally, motorcycle fatalities have increased 59 percent since 1997 (Motorcycle 1). Between September and December of 2003 in Pennsylvania, helmetless rider fatalities more than doubled, but fatalities decreased in riders wearing helmets (Wlazelek 1). Similarly, research done by the American Journal of Public Health found that motorcycle helmets severely reduce the presence and severity of head injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents (Rowland 4). Obviously, there is strong correlation between helmet use and the number of fatal crashes. The research done across Pennsylvania in the years following the repeal of the all-rider helmet law suggests that helmets do in fact decrease the risk of serious head injuries and death among motorcyclists. According to Judith Stone, increased deaths were enough for Louisiana to reject helmetless riding and revert back to an all-rider helmet law. Louisiana saw a 100 per...
It is unfortunate that accidents that result in injuries are a part of life. Further more it is also unfortunate that often the party responsible for said accident do not feel compelled to offer compensation to the party affected. However in spite of this, there is still hope for the injured party thanks to personal injury lawyers. They are tasked with representing their clients who suffered from these events while making sure that their clients receive the compensation that they deserve. Ultimately personal injury lawyers play a big role with regards to safety initiatives by helping those injured, which is something that we all should aspire to do.
Millions of people all over the United States choose motorcycles over automobiles for the thrill, speed, and high performance capabilities. On the other hand, motorcycles are not at all the safest way of transportation. Motorcycles do not provide the passenger with the outer protection that cars provide, therefore, when one crashes, the results are usually much more serious. Injuries to the head are responsible for 76% of fatalities when dealing with motorcycle crashes many of which could have been prevented had the rider been wearing a helmet. For this reason, many states have adopted the motorcycle helmet law. The law states that every passengers must wear a helmet at all times when riding on a motorcycle. This law has created a great deal of controversy. One side supports the law, believing that it protects motorcyclists from danger and saves the economy a great deal of money. The other side argues that the law is unconstitutional and it violates our right to freedom. However, statistics show overwhelming support in favor of the motorcycle helmet law. Although wearing helmets cannot prevent motorcycle crashes, they can greatly reduce the number of deaths caused by head injury as well as lowering taxes, insurance rates, and health care costs. Therefore, the helmet law should be put into effect in every state across the United States.
most important thing to wear. It protects your head in case of a direct impact like airbags protect your head from hitting the dash in a car. There are many brands and sizes to choose from. The most reliable and well known is a company called "Bauer." The size usually depends on the shape and measurements of your head. The next impo...
Several states have a law requiring anyone on a motorcycle to wear a helmet. However, some states have laws that
The city also cited U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission data reports that the number of head injuries to cyclists has increased by 10% percent since 1991, even with the rise in helmet use. Cyclist has declined at the same time, the data indicated, increasing the rate of head injuries per active cyclist though the decade by 51% percent. The commission's data also shows a substantial reduction in cycling where helmet laws are in effect.
While the use of helmets does aid in protecting players from brain trauma, they also increase the risky behavior of players; this is called risk compensation. Risk compensation is the adjustment of individual behavior, responding to the perceived changes in risk (TheFreeDictionary.com). Most people that wear helmets have a pre-conceived idea that, because they have a helmet on, they can possess more daring behaviors and be fine. The helmet is basically thought of as a tool to hit harder, or improve performance in today’s culture. Adventure writer and pilot, Lane Wallace (2011) accurately understands the dangers of helmets being used incorrectly, and how they are used as weapons instead of safety. Wallace also theorizes like the NFL, a change in football culture and of viewpoints towards helmets would vastly reduce trauma to the
As cars were able to go faster, safety became a concern to track officials. Helmets were designed to dissipate impact energy, and prevent damage to the drivers head. The first helmets looked like hard hats; later on they developed a chin strap. The first full face helmet was made by Bell, but wasn’t worn until the Indianapolis 500 in 1968. But NASCAR, didn’...
The consequences of severe motorcycle accidents are Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal cord injury, and broken bones. In addition, many motorcyclists who go through an accident lose a limb, and some become partially paralyzed. This particular trauma tends to allow motorcyclist to get back on motorcycles and act recklessly, some never recover and never get back on. Some tend to feel shamed and convicted whenever someone speaks of their situation. Many individuals suffer from medical bills, loss wages, insurance rates grow higher and the brain functions are sometimes not the same. For example, from my personal experience a medical bill for a fractured ulna, broken femur, and a broken tibia and fibula costed five hundred thousand dollars. The hospitals know that an individual without insurance could never repay that debt and they sink even lower in debt because of it. According to Carl Rics, the medical bills are ridicules and will never get covered unless you have insurance (personal communication, November
Whether it’s a concussions or a hematoma, athletes should be wearing the proper gear. This gear will help prevent further injuries and may save their life. For anything facial related such as eye laserations, hyphema, or any oral injury, protective face guards should be used. Face masks/guards and mouth guards will help protect the face. To protect from head injuries, proper helmets should be worn.
Law enforcement agencies have found that motorcycles are also an effective in patrols with their ability to move easier in traffic. They have also been used to escort political figures, funeral procession and lead parades (Day, 2009). Motorcycle patrols have been in law enforcement use since 1909 with a multitude of types of motorcycles such as Harley Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, and BMWs (Day, 2009). The disadvantages of using motorcycles for patrol use are the main factor that a rainy day or a snow storm
One of the first factors that contribute to bicycle and helmet safety is learning how to ride a bicycle. Many people learn how to ride a bicycle when they are four or five years old and some do not learn until they are older (Donaldson). Learning how to ride a bicycle is the first and most important step because you must be able to operate and control the bicycle.
Helmets are used to protect the head from falling objects or hot embers. Helmets started out as nothing more than a leather hard hat made for construction which doesn’t provide much protection or safety for the people