Motorcycle safety is the responsibility of the rider, not the nanny state

March 26, 10:40 AMMotorcycle ExaminerKen Bingenheimer

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Helmets are not a blanket cure for the hazards of riding a motorcycle

"Too bad he wasn't wearing a helmet." 

This was the subject line on an email a friend sent me with a picture of a biker who got cut in half in a particularly horrendous crash. I didn't look at the picture.

Grim humor, yes, but it makes a point that many in the non-motorcycling public fail to grasp. Wearing a helmet is not a blanket cure-all for hazards that befall motorcyclists. It's just an easy, feel-good way for legislators to think they've done something good. Never mind tackling the thornier issues that might actually reduce accidents. Remember, no one EVER died in an accident that was prevented. The object of public policy should be reduction in the number of accidents, not legislating safer crashes.

That said, the real responsibility lies with the motorcyclist to protect himself or herself. DC Motorcycle Travel Examiner Mark Poesch initiated this round of discussion with his excellent post, Natasha Richardson's tragedy in the headlines: how safe is safe enough? No, she didn't die in a motorcycle crash, but the connection is relevant.

Mark makes the point that while helmets can provide protection in case of a crash, it is not the responsibility of the state to protect us from all harm: we have to take personal responsibility and that means having the freedom to choose.

And here's an interesting outgrowth of this whole argument. An article in Forbes magazine, dated March 2, 2009, said that attorneys belonging to the American Association for Justice want the Obama Administration to overturn some federally promulgated health and safety regulations because they prevent them from suing individual states. Specifically, federal standards for helmets give states an out when bikers crash wearing inadequate helmets and then sue the state for not forcing them to a better helmet. Now, what were we saying about personal responsibility?

As far as helmets go, in 2007 about 42 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents were not wearing helmets. That means that 58 percent were wearing helmets and they were killed anyway. I'm not sure about the 2008 figures but they're probably comparable.

As for personal responsibility, there are some riders who believe in and practice what is stated in brief as ATGATT: All the gear, all the time. To those folks I say more power to you. But that doesn't happen to be my choice, and this is all about choice. I just don't see it as realistic. Yes, I could wear leather chaps, heavy riding boots, leather jacket, gloves, helmet and anything else deemed appropriate all the time. But what about in the middle of summer in Arizona? I'd cook.

So I practice what I consider to be a realistic compromise. In the winter I'll wear it all. Heck, if nothing else it keeps me warmer. The rest of the year I'll usually wear the jacket, but I like riding without a helmet. First of all, it’s extremely pleasant, and is a large part of what I find so enjoyable about riding. Secondly, when I do wear the helmet it gets very uncomfortable, even painful, when I wear it for a long time. Now, regarding this latter point, it may be that I just need a different helmet. But I’ve had a number of helmets over the years and the same has been true for all of them. They hurt my head.

As for boots, I have really good, heavy motorcycle boots, but they're lousy for walking in. I'll wear them when I travel and carry sneakers in my bags. But if I'm riding my bike to my job or to the store I'm going to wear something I can be comfortable in for an extended period, not my boots. I add or omit other bits of gear based on similar needs. I just don't see ATGATT as realistic.

But the point is that I make the decision myself, based on my own needs and desires. Republicans like to say that the people make better decisions about how to spend their money than government does. Well, I think I make better decisions for myself than the government can. And there's no guarantee that all of my choices will be good choices but they're MY choices, and I take responsibility for my choices.