POLLOCK: WhatÞs with PennsylvaniaÞs Ýno helmetÞ law? | Archives | oleantimesherald.com - Olean Times Herald

Every time I sport a motorcyclist in Maine or New Hampshire riding helmetless, my urge is to laugh.

ßHow stupid,à my inner voice shouts.

Yeah, I know, itÞs all about individual freedoms … and looking cool.

Plus, itÞs a political reality that intellect canÞt be legislated, so those two states donÞt bother to try.

Me, I always wear a helmet … riding my bike.

Ten years ago, a woman sideswiped me with her car and I landed on my head, none the worse for wear except the logo on my helmet was worn off by the skid.

Then, last summer, while flying down a hill at 30 mph, I clipped a pothole and flew over the handlebars, hitting the ground square on my cranium. The result was a slight concussion, but without that head protection, the injury would have been much more severe.

The point is, if that can happen on a bike, why would anyone consider riding a motorcycle ã which travels many times faster ã without, as theyÞre cynically labeled, a brain bucket?

Hence my surprise that Pennsylvania, under pressure from the stateÞs vain motorcyclists, rescinded its helmet law.

It should be a personal choice, they argued, dredging up the same defense used by opponents of seat-belt legislation.

And IÞll buy that to a point.

But the reality is, common sense issues aside, people injured because they disdain safety devices ã helmets or seat belts ã cost us money.

And a lot more of it than had they used protective options.

So as not to trample anyoneÞs constitutionally-protected freedom of choice, I have an option.

In some states, HMOs actually pay only a fraction of the medical costs for anyone injured in an accident in which they fail to wear a seatbelt.

Why not pay them NOTHING?

Same for drunk drivers … seat belt or not.

Why not bankrupt problem drinkers for medical expenses?

And motorcyclists who prefer to ride helmetless?

Have them sign a waiver that gives them the freedom to pay ALL of their medical bills.

(Chuck Pollock is sports editor of The Times Herald)

source: https://www.oleantimesherald.com/archives/pollock-what-s-with-pennsylvania-s-no-helmet-law/article_42a7b73c-d494-5c72-8ec9-1319f5382bcd.html

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