Apur-phy.169
net.cycle
utzoo!decvax!pur-ee!pur-phy!mad
Fri Dec 11 14:01:29 1981
Helmets suck?
Regarding Brian's short comments on helmets: (``THEY SUCK!'')
Every time I climb on my scoot I wear my helmet, for a variety of
(what I consider) very good reasons. First the selfish ones: like
anything else, riding a cycle is a taking a certain risk. No matter
how capable a rider you are, it's pretty likely that someday you and
your scoot are going to part in a less than graceful manner. (Lots of
moronic auto drivers and a dog or two will be glad to assist if you
can't do it on your own.) I'm sure a multitude of studies have shown
that in such circumstances, a helmet significantly reduces the likely-
hood of head injuries.
I consider it advantageous to protect my head from trauma, and consider
the `costs' of wearing a helmet (whatever they may be) to be insignificant
in comparison to head injury and any subsequent mental or physical
impairment.
Now, for the societal issues: If you go out and splat your cerebral
cortex against the pavement, you cost everyone a lot of bucks. First
of all, our insurance rates jump to pay for your hospitalization, and
the outrageous lawsuit you filed against the idiot that hit you. Now,
I'm not suggesting that helmets will end accidents and the resulting
costs, but the costs will certainly be less if your head has not been
too badly scrambled by the affair.
Should you receive injuries severe enough to lower your productivity,
society is out the `contributions' you might have made, and also,
probably has to pay to let you drool down you chin in some nursing
home somewhere.
Now, in reality, I DON'T favor LAWS requiring helmet use. They
are ineffective, and lead to the mentality that NOT wearing a
helmet is somehow `macho'. I DO think its naive to dismiss helmets
with a remark like: THEY SUCK!
(Afterburners on!)
I can live without the air blowing thru my hair, and I don't ride to
go out `profiling' on some pre-fab chopper to show myself to the chicks.
I ride because I love the sport. I wear a helmet because I'm realistic
about the risks.
Mike
P.S. I ride a CB900F with a sport control kit, I'd be interested in any
comments about the sport fairing that Honda has available for the 900.
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