Motorcycle Helmet Laws
Rep. Dan Frankel has introduced a bill that again requires motorcycle riders within Pennsylvania to wear helmets. Libertarians and bikers united a few years back to repeal the old law. Ben Roethlisberger's recent accident has brought the issue back to the forefront. I wonder why it took a famous football players' near fatal accident to do so. Why weren't all the myriad of other victims worthy of concern? Motorcycle fatalities and instances of head trauma have increased rapidly due to the repeal of the helmet law. Duh. As if this should come as a shock to anyone. How dumb do you have to be to ride a motorcycle without a helmet? Perhaps that law should have come with a provision that before anyone could ride without a helmet they should have to tour a place like Magee Rehabilition Hospital in Philadelphia and see people with traumatic head injuries. Maybe all our state legislators need do so before voting on Frankel's bill.
I'd like to know what the cost to the public has been for these bikers who have suffered injuries. Their argument for repealing the law was that it encroached on their freedom of choice. They maintain it should be up to them, and them alone, whether to wear a helmet. No, when all of us have to pay for the health care and rehabilition costs it isn't your decision. Unless, of course these people are willing to sign affadavits waiving all medical treatment in the case of accidents. Perhaps they could get another tattoo alerting medical professionals that they are not to be cared for in the case of a motorcycle accident.
It's interesting to note that the most reckless bikers I observe are always riding without helmets. Traumatic head injuries are very serious. They involve many many years of rehabilition. Their affect on the patients and families is uncountable. Most are never able to resume anything close to a normal life and greatly affect the lives of their loved ones. For more information visit the Brain Injury Association website.
I'm speaking here as something of an expert. I suffered a head injury in 1984. Folks, requiring helmets is a no brainer.
I'd like to know what the cost to the public has been for these bikers who have suffered injuries. Their argument for repealing the law was that it encroached on their freedom of choice. They maintain it should be up to them, and them alone, whether to wear a helmet. No, when all of us have to pay for the health care and rehabilition costs it isn't your decision. Unless, of course these people are willing to sign affadavits waiving all medical treatment in the case of accidents. Perhaps they could get another tattoo alerting medical professionals that they are not to be cared for in the case of a motorcycle accident.
It's interesting to note that the most reckless bikers I observe are always riding without helmets. Traumatic head injuries are very serious. They involve many many years of rehabilition. Their affect on the patients and families is uncountable. Most are never able to resume anything close to a normal life and greatly affect the lives of their loved ones. For more information visit the Brain Injury Association website.
I'm speaking here as something of an expert. I suffered a head injury in 1984. Folks, requiring helmets is a no brainer.
posted by PA progressive @ Monday, July 03, 2006
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