Helmet laws throughout the U.S. have always created a great deal of controversy. Currently there are two types of helmet laws in the United States; a universal helmet law, which requires all motorcyclists to wear a helmet and partial helmet law that has age requirements. The helmet debate has been a long battle between free-rights organizations and government officials.
In 1967, the Highway Safety act created a federal highway safety grant program. Prior to this act, no state in the U.S. had a motorcycle helmet law. In order for states to receive federal funds, they were required to have a highway safety program in place. If a state did not enact a universal motorcycle helmet law, portions of these federal funds could be withheld. By 1975, forty-seven states responded and passed helmet laws. Congress amended the Incentives for State Helmet Laws in 1976. Although in 1991, they passed the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act to give states incentives and penalties based on the helmet laws. This had little effect on the states and Congress rescinded this helmet policy in 1995. States, under pressure from free-choice groups like ABATE, weakened, and began repealing their helmet laws. (Laws)
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), only 20 states still require all riders to wear helmets today. Three states have no helmet law at all, and the other 27 have age restrictions.
I currently live in PA and the helmet law is a very personal one to me. I have many friends and immediate family members including myself, who are avid motorcyclists. We are all fully aware of the dangers associated with riding first hand. This debate has been discussed around our dinner table many times. Despite...
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"Costs of Injuries Resulting from Motorcycle Crashes." Home | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Web. 20 Nov. 2011. .
Rhoades, Jim. "Helmet Law." ABATE of Michigan 248 685 9150. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. .
"Crash Science." Friction Zone June 2006: 2-4. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
Heinrichs, Allison M. "Pitt Study Says Helmet-less Riders Hazard to Health." Pittsburgh Tribune-Review [Pittsburgh, PA] 13 June 2008. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. .
Auman, K. M., J. A. Kufera, M. F. Ballesteros, J. E. Smialek, and P. C. Dischinger. "Autopsy Study of Motorcyclist Fatalities: The Effect of the 1992 Maryland Motorcycle Helmet Use Law." American Journal of Public Health 92.8 (2002): 1352-355. Business Source Elite. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.
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
Helmets drastically reduce the tremendous number of deaths caused by head injuries as well as reducing the severity of any ...
On May 22, 1990 two Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies were responding to a call to break up a fight. While returning to their cars one of the officers, Murray Stapp noticed a motorcycle moving at rather high speeds. The motorcycle was being operated by 18-year-old Brian Willard and carrying a 16-year-old passenger by the name of Phillip Lewis. Neither the operator nor the passenger of the motorcycle had anything to do with the fight being responded to.
2014 Issues Analysis By Dino Nuker Sport Safety: Should headgear be made mandatory for all contact sports? Injuries are common in most sports that have a contact component attached. Whether it’s at a professional level, or a school level, injuries are always bound to occur in contact sport. This analysis will look into the role headgear could, should and would play, and debates whether it should be made mandatory. Olympic sports such as Ice Hockey, Bicycle Riding and Baseball are just some examples that currently require athletes to wear a form of headgear.
First, the rules that are enforced are a great way of making the game safe for the players. There are rules like, not being allowed to tackle certain ways. For example, if you tackle someone from the back by pulling them, then that is said to be an illegal tackle. It is also said that it is illegal for someone to pull on others facemask when tackling. There are many others rules that are enforced in the game. Another one is the rule that says, Head to Head is not allowed. What that basically is that you cannot tackle someone by contacting your helmet to the opposing player. This rule makes it greatly safe because it reduces the numbers of injuries that occur to the head and the neck. The head is the key part of the human body. When someone hits another player with the helmet in the head, it reduces the risks of concussion and that can result to serious and severe body failures, including being...
People do not realize how much of a problem drinking and driving can cause, not only in the United States but all over the world. In 2009, 1.4 million drivers have been arrested, but the influenced by alcohol or drugs. There is a very high percentage of motorcycle fatalities and about a third of them are alcohol accidents and there levels are above legal
...tish Columbia there are laws in place that allows Sikh’s to wear their turbans while on their motorcycle instead of wearing a helmet.
One statistic that I’ve heard, but have been unable to find everywhere, is that a helmet will help save you a concussion attributable to influences up to thirteen mph. Over 13 mph, a shock can nevertheless arise.
However, in today’s times, mandatory use of a seat belt falls under various states purview. Each state implements its own laws regarding enforcement of seat belt use. Forty-nine states have adult seat belt laws as of 2009. New York was the first state to pass seat belt laws in 1984 and other states followed suit. In 1994, North Dakota became the last state to pass such a law. Currently, New Hampshire is the only state that does not mandate seat belt use for adults (Sefcik, L, 2010).
6. No matter what helmet players are wearing they are all susceptible to concussions, especially if the rules to not protect player well enough.
Should bicycle helmets be made mandatory for all cyclist? That is what two elementary students asked for from their city council, an ordinance enforcing the use of Bicycle Safety helmets for children under 12. So on April 25, 2002, in Richardson, Texas, the city council had decided against an ordinance requiring bicycle helmets for children under 12. Of course they had their reasons for not passing the request made by two young girls. If they would have taken a serious look at the issue, they may have viewed it differently.
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
Have you ever known somebody who was injured in a car accident? What do you think his attitude about seat belts was after they saved his life? If you knew that a seat belt would save your life, you would buckle up! It took years of legislation and public awareness campaigns to make seat belt use mandatory. Now a new topic regarding public safety is coming to light: people are dying or becoming seriously injured in seemingly minor accidents on bicycles when the rider's head strikes the concrete. When the head is unprotected "the brain continues to move in a forward motion while the skull stops moving" (Macyko1), causing trauma. What is needed is a way to protect the brain "by absorbing the energy from the impact, buying extra time for the brain to slow down" (Macyko1). Bicycle riders need to wear helmets to protect their brains from injury, yet unfortunately the public is simply not aware of this need and many people will continue to die or be seriously injured unless something is done. Bicycle helmets save lives and should be required by Arizona State law for riders of all ages.
Several states have a law requiring anyone on a motorcycle to wear a helmet. However, some states have laws that
1. Studies have shown that wearing a helmet can reduce your chances of head injury by 85%