tdgeek:surfisup1000:tdgeek:mattwnz:
At the end of the day it all comes down to common sense, and using the tools available to minimize risk. IMO, that is what the current law does. At one stage helmets were considered too expensive, which discouraged use, so they heavily subsidized them down to $20 when I was at school, which meant everyone got one.
I am not sure if life jackets in small boats are compulsory yet (although they should be IMO). But it is a similar argument. Often when you hear of a boating accident, and people killed, the one thing you hear the media say, is that they weren't wearing lifejackets. Even when they are, the life jackets can be ancient and unsafe. It doesn't appear we can trust people to wear them voluntarily. When someone dies in a ATV or cycle accident, it will usually be reported whether they were wearing a helmet or not. Some people seem to think it is 'nanny state' law, but then again laws are there to protect people from themselves and others.
Nailed it. I started this thread and I am a bit shocked that a simple helmet that dios help a lot is regarded as an option by some. I really didnt think this thread would go the way it has. In myOP I said its not a nanny state law. Apparently it is. Some say children cannot make the right choice, I agree, neither can some adults. All activities, from pedestrians to sky divers take a risk. They take mandatory or optional safety measures. ACC covers all those. First the state make a law, sensible and proven safety measures, but it isn't really a law for most of us, it just picks up those who are careless.
Its JUST a helmet, Its JUST a seatbelt, there is little difference. Quick, easy, non intrusive, and it works. If seatbelts were not mandatory X% will not use them. Ask the DHB's a year later.
Because your view is one dimensional and you focus solely on the risk side of the equation.
To compare helmets against seatbelts is ridiculous because a helmet is different to a seatbelt just as a bike is different to a car. The only similarity is both provide protection and clearly with the number of road deaths in cars perhaps people should wear helmets in cars while driving.
Do you need to carry a seatbelt with you? Does it take longer to put on a cycle helmet? Can you easily store a bike helmet like a seatbelt? Are cycle helmets physically attached to the bike and can't be lost? In all ways a helmet is inconvenient compared to a seatbelt.One dimensional? Standard negative forum reply. That is YOUR opinion it is not fact
Focus solely on the risk? OBVIOUSLY
If a cycle helmet is that much of a pain, don't wear one. The motorcycle brigade has no issue and they ARE inconvenient
Umm u don't have a choice because it is the law...you don't give any thought to the benefits of having optional helmet laws and you make invalid comparisons to seatbelts.
Although I do notice that a lot of people in my neighbourhood ignore helmet laws... Our streets are pretty quiet although I would definitely wear a helmet on busy arterials.
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