Red-The National Highway Transportaion Safety Administration is the FIRST source of information for any agency, law enforcement, or legislature. Appartently you've never gotten involved with that. Here's my qualifications: I beat the proposed Alaska helmet law. How? As an objective observer, I noticed a battle going on between the legislators and the opponents. I approached both sides. Neither side had shit for information. So I went to the Alaska State Troopers. Give me everything about motorcycle accidents, fatalities, cause of accident, cause of death, alcohol/excessive speed related. The trooper came back to me puzzled and astounded: "You're not going to believe this, but the majority of fatalities happened when the rider was WEARING A HELMET." With NO mandatory helmet law. For a 5 year study period, just to be fair. Every year was the same. I then headed to the library for details. Head injuries WERE NOT the main cause of death. Internal injuries, severed arteries were; head injuries with the helmet ON in some cases
Weird things like two people nailing a moose on a highway outside of Anchorage, hitting the pavement, then getting run over by traffic. Helmets ON. DEAD. Excessive speed and alcohol were the main factors in causes of accidents. One sports racer had no helmet on, was speeding, lost control, dumped his bike, skidded along and hit a metal light pole with his leg. Not a scratch on his head. Lay there talking to a cop, died from excessive bleeding from a severed artery. I presented this info to the Legislature. They thanked me for being the the ONLY person to persent the FACTS (which is the ONLY thing I do), and defeated the bill. OH, I also had the pleasure of burying a friend of mine whose last statement to me was "Where's you helmet?" I told him "Yours won't save you". The next time I saw him was in a casket. Died after going into a coma-HELMET ON. Here's a thought-his name was Ed Weingart, Anchorage, Alaska. Why don't you call his family with your condolences, then add "You know, if Ed had just worn his HELMET"...Let's see if you have the guts to post THIS.-PDP

My Reply To His Reply:

Ok, no, I have never gotten involved in any legislation when it comes to helmet laws. Why would I? I wear a helmet, all the time, regardless of the law.

You beat the Alaska helmet law, good for you. Whoopee. I don’t give a shit.

I never said that head injuries were the number-one cause of motorcycle deaths. As a matter of fact, I stated in my last post that a helmet would do nothing to protect you from any other injuries. DUH!!! Let me see if I can get this through your thick skull. HELMETS ARE TO PROTECT YOUR HEAD! THAT IS IT!!!

Why do people constantly bring up the argument that their friend died when he/she wrecked his/her bike and broke a leg, arm, shoulder, or received some other blunt bodily trauma and then surprisingly state “and he was wearing a helmet!!” When you are arguing about the use of helmets, bringing up any injuries not head related are irrelevant. So shut up already.

Let’s talk now about your report from the aforementioned trooper. He was astounded that a majority of the fatalities happened when the rider was WEARING A HELMET. This goes back to what I mentioned about statistics in my last posting. Again, the information is misleading. You stated yourself, “Head injuries WERE NOT the main cause of death. Internal injuries, severed arteries were; head injuries with the helmet ON in some cases.” Let us break that down shall we;

Using your logic, I could argue that regardless of whether helmets where worn or not, the number of fatalities would have been relatively the same. In this case, yes your position on helmets would be valid, though still misleading. Confused, I’ll elaborate further;

If you only include the accidents that involved the rider’s head, the results would be quite different. Come to think of it, the numbers would probably still run in your favor. What, did I just say that? Yes I did. Why? Because most riders that have an accident and hit their heads on something (road, windshield, car, what have you), and were wearing a helmet, they most likely lived to talk about it. Your little study only covered fatalities. That is only half of the story. Your little story doesn’t cover those who’s lives where saved by helmets. And why would it. Good news isn’t news-worthy and goes against your little cause. Also, unless a rider dies, he/she does not become a statistic.

Now about your friend. I’m never happy when a motorcyclist dies in an accident. I find it disturbing that you would use your friend’s demise, and worse, his family to make your point. His parents suffered a great loss. Since it appears the result of his accident would have been the same whether a helmet was used or not would serve no purpose in easing their pain. Shame on you!

Paul's Reply #2:

Red-You failed to provide me with any information to back up anything you've said, and apparently refused to study the facts, as it is with so many of you self righteous helmet advocates. Who, by the way, are in the vast MINORITY, and are getting smaller daily. Why? Simply because as the FACTS are presented to the populous, people are starting to wise up. (Pennsyvania just dropped their helmet law this week). So the next time you have to explain to somebody's family why their son/daughter/brother died with their helmet ON (which I will never have to do) after listening to you tell them it would save them, take that sucker off you head and THINK for a minute. It's not common sense to wear a helmet-it's common NONSENSE. Do your homework. That's why we're standing up and saying something. You've done NO research whatsoever.-PDP

My turn!

What the fuck? Did I not say at one point in the last posting that the statements I wrote were not hard facts, but personal experiences? Did I not also say that I don’t trust statistics? Did you even read what I wrote? Apparently not. As far as the facts, I’ve already punched holes in yours from the previous e-mail.

The next time I have to tell somebody’s family that their loved one died, I will stick the sad fact that they are gone. I will not belittle the situation by getting into some philosophical debate with myself or them about whether the helmet he wore should have saved him or not. You on the other hand, believe it or not, will one day wonder why your friend who got into an accident and hit his/her head on the street at 35mph ended up sharing their brains with everybody on the road. Had they had a helmet on. . . nonsense my ass!

I have done plenty of research you presumptuous shit. I’ll state it again. Everything I have ever read, the group either for or against helmets will twist the numbers to fit their needs. Is that déjà vu? Have I not already mentioned this?

Paul's Reply #3 :

Red-One last thing. What state are you in? If you wanted to know information in your state, where would you go? I'll tell you what. You tell me your state, I'll tell you the motorcycle FACTS about your state. You do the same. Post mine, post yours. Then we'll be on the same page. There's your challenge. Are you up to it?-PDP

Now Me:

I currently live in Florida (no helmet law). In October, I move back to Arizona (also, no helmet law for 18 and up.) If I want information on my state, I’ll ask all the riders I ride with or the riders in that area. I usually meet up with almost 200+ riders in Clearwater on the weekends, and with them are 200+ helmets, in a non-helmet law state. You want the facts, here they are. The fact is I wear a helmet, armored leather jacket, and gloves when I ride regardless of the law. On hard rides, I wear full racing leathers. The fact is helmets save lives. I have PERSONALLY seen helmets save my friends lives time and time again. The fact is, I have seen, time and time again, accidents that ended fatally because some idiot smeared his brain all over the tarmac riding without a helmet. The fact is, if helmets did nothing, racers wouldn’t wear them. I DON’T TRUST FACTS GIVEN BY SOME GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR OTHERWISE. My views and decisions come from my personal experience, not from some non-riding bureaucratic asshole behind a desk.

Red

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