Florida has no helmet law

[DoomsDave]

Hmm.  Just wondering, as I roared up from the Keys behind this bikeroid dude, sans helmet.

Here in Cali we got one, but only after a lot of protest . . . .

[Walter John]

USA Helmet Laws

[tank]

You've got to be 21 years old and have at least 10,000 in insurance.  If you've got that, you can don your persona of a Hells Angel and whoop it up.

[metalfan]

Hey, I think I know that guy! (Just kidding)

Dave, I think that the law here is pretty nebulous. They passed one I know at one time, but the over 90% of the bikers didn't like it and refused to follow it. I **believe** that they repealed it for over 21, but left it as a requirement for under 21, on motorcycles. They were either going helmetless anyway, or wearing those little thin "Keyser" helmets that didn't offer any protection anyway but made them at least marginally legal.

All children are required to wear helmets when on a bicycle, and while adult cyclists are not required to, its pretty silly not to. There are a lot of inattentive drivers here, in this county at least. There are a few bicycle vs car fatalities in this county alone every year. A female jogger was nailed and killed in a crosswalk on or near the UF campus not long ago. I get the "close brush" probably 4 times out of every 10 I go running, by people in crosswalks who ignore the  right of way of pedestrians on the "green light WITH walk" signal.

[metalfan]

Tank and I must have been typing simultaneously. I know he knows!

[tank]

While I'm not a huge fan of bicycle helmet fashion, I do wear a helmet (at least 95%) of the time.  I ride a bicycle to work and I road bike quite a bit.

I really think that if adult motorcyclelists choose not to wear a helmet, more power to them.  In general I really don't mind if adults put themselves at risk as long as it doesn't affect anyone else.  On the other hand I'm not a fan of potentially subsidizing their risk with increased insurance and health care premiums.  

Also, If you happen to be the one that hits a motorcyclists, you'll probably want them to be wearing a helmet, especially if you're at fault.

In Florida, the amount and seriousness of motorcycle injuries increased dramatically after they ammended the universal helmet law to allow folks to go helmetless.

Gina, don't get hit while running!  I do agree that this town has more than its fair share of inattentive drivers.

[tank]

(Dave from So-Cal @ Feb. 20 2008,01:47)

QUOTE

Hmm.  Just wondering, as I roared up from the Keys behind this bikeroid dude, sans helmet.

Here in Cali we got one, but only after a lot of protest . . . .

Dave,

Did you get stuck behind a caravan.  That road can slow to a crawl.  I like how they have all of the signs about avoiding road rage.  

"3 more minute until a passing lane.... please don't lose your mind"

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Most of the Harley riders don't wear helmets.  Most of the speed bike riders do wear helmets.  Then there is the older, Honda Gold Wing crowd that wears helmets with two way radios in them so they can talk.

I have seen statistics showing that full head helmets, the kind that cover the chin and face, have a good protection factor for the skull but a greater neck injury incedence.  Maybe because of the greater weight or the chin guard catches the road and snaps the neck.  Who knows?  The point to remember when riding a motorcycle is that there are few minor accidents, most of them can really injure you.

Jerry

[metalfan]

I agree with that statement, Jerry. I have seen some truly horrific injuries from guys laying their bikes out on the road. A lot of them who did survive, wished they hadn't.

The injuries can be really grisly, not just head injuries, but human skin and the underlaying muscle are soft tissues and are no match for the asphalt. Its like peeling a banana.

A friend called us on Tuesday night, he knows my husband is a Neurosurgeon...he and his family were driving from a property in Melrose they own back to Gainesville and saw a horrible motorcycle wreck. The guy was helmetless and he said his head was "smushed and cracked open like a watermelon". That was only one of his injuries. Fortunately, my husband wasn't on call.

What Tank said is also 100% right. Insurance premiums...$10,000 wouldn't even BEGIN to cover the hospitalization expense for a catastrophic multiple trauma from one of these injuries.

Just a little anecdote (and this is a true story...you can't make this stuff up...)

When I was a nurse in the Burn ICU in Texas, we got a call one day about a patient that was enroute to us via LifeFlight. He was a motorcycle wreck who had managed to scrape off over 50% of the flesh of his body (what we refer to as 'road rash') down to muscle or below. Those types of injuries are usually treated in places like Burn Units, because the care is basically the same as for a full thickness (3rd degree or greater) thermal injury and Burn Units are set up for that.

He was also a multi trauma with multiple fractures, stuff like a collapsed lung, ruptured spleen and a head injury. Basically, he was toast, but you gotta try, right?

What they failed to mention and that we found out when he got to us was that he was a member of a motorcycle gang and had sustained all these injuries when a member of a rival gang shot him (in the head) off of his motorcycle. SO then we had to worry about if this gang was going to come looking for him and finish the job.

He arrived at a time when the hospital was doing in depth studies on the cost of delivering care, in the brginning of what are called DRG's (Diagnosis Related Groups) which are what the Insurance Companies today use to either deny or allow claims. So we were required to keep track of basically every supply we used on his body when treating him...every syringe, every roll of Kerlix, every gauze 4x4, every tube of ointment...you get the picture. The charges were totalled at the end and added to the salaries/manpower, ICU room rent, ancillary care like respiratory therapy and machinery like drip pumps, ventilators, etc

At the end of his hospitalization (ie, when he died, after having to go on such extreme care as jet ventilation, hemodialysis, and peritoneal ultrafiltration) his case was presented to the "powers that be" for the financial breakdown and analysis, and he had a MULTI MILLION DOLLAR hospital bill. Which was 100% written off, because he was indigent and had NO INSURANCE.

Even if he'd had the $10,000 that FL requires, it wouldn't have made any difference

[DoomsDave]

The injury factor is why I don't have a Murder Cycle, in spite of the exhortations by many to rent a Hawg.

I've seen some horrific mishaps with and without helmets, though I have to say the worst are without.  

Ouch!

dave

[edbrown_3]

The no helmet I would call an example of "evolution" but the only problem is that they usually survive long enough to breed. I reckon this factors into my the major medical sub policy on my car insurance.

B est regards

Ed

[Walter John]

While I'm not a huge fan of bicycle helmet fashion, I do wear a helmet (at least 95%) of the time.  I ride a bicycle to work and I road bike quite a bit.

I really think that if adult motorcyclelists choose not to wear a helmet, more power to them.  In general I really don't mind if adults put themselves at risk as long as it doesn't affect anyone else.  On the other hand I'm not a fan of potentially subsidizing their risk with increased insurance and health care premiums.  

Also, If you happen to be the one that hits a motorcyclists, you'll probably want them to be wearing a helmet, especially if you're at fault.

So, what is your opinion  ???

More power to those who don't wear one and what exactly ?

It's quite a basic logical reason for helmets , those that don't see this probably shouldn't be on the road.

[tank]

(Wal @ Feb. 20 2008,15:50)

QUOTE

While I'm not a huge fan of bicycle helmet fashion, I do wear a helmet (at least 95%) of the time.  I ride a bicycle to work and I road bike quite a bit.

I really think that if adult motorcyclelists choose not to wear a helmet, more power to them.  In general I really don't mind if adults put themselves at risk as long as it doesn't affect anyone else.  On the other hand I'm not a fan of potentially subsidizing their risk with increased insurance and health care premiums.  

Also, If you happen to be the one that hits a motorcyclists, you'll probably want them to be wearing a helmet, especially if you're at fault.

So, what is your opinion  ???

More power to those who don't wear one and what exactly ?

It's quite a basic logical reason for helmets , those that don't see this probably shouldn't be on the road.

I think everyone who rides a bicycle or a motorcycle should wear a helmet.

I also believe that no adult should be forced to wear a helmet on a bicycle or a motorcycle......unless I have to subsidize their risk .

[edbrown_3]

Tank,

that is my sentiments but the problem is we subsidence the risk especially if they carry on 10k, of insurance.

"Their brains " --"our money" I guess that is the risk equation.

Best regards

Ed

[Tad]

(edbrown_3 @ Feb. 20 2008,14:26)

QUOTE

The no helmet I would call an example of "evolution" but the only problem is that they usually survive long enough to breed. I reckon this factors into my the major medical sub policy on my car insurance.

B est regards

Ed

DEAR GOD WHAT HAS THE WORLD COME TO???????

ED and I ARE IN AGREEMENT ON SOMTHING!?!?!?!

DUCK AND COVER FOLKS HELL IS GETTING CHILLY!!!

[Darold Petty]

Helmet laws interfere with natural selection!

[Mike4284m]

I once heard a rumor that after celebrating the passing of the "no helmet" law in FL, one of the major campaigners for the legislation crashed her bike and died, obviously not wearing a helmet.  Anyone else ever hear that?

[DoomsDave]

(Mike4284m @ Feb. 20 2008,23:01)

QUOTE

I once heard a rumor that after celebrating the passing of the "no helmet" law in FL, one of the major campaigners for the legislation crashed her bike and died, obviously not wearing a helmet.  Anyone else ever hear that?

Hmm.

Sounds on its face like an urban legend, but, give a name, and I'll do a google . . .

[Mike4284m]

Sorry, no name.  That's why I'm pretty sure it's just a story.

While unsuccessfully googling for info on the above I came across this article about the increased number of motorcycle deaths since the law requiring helmets was repealed.

Florida Motorcycle Deaths, Post 'No Helmet'

[Walter John]

Duh!!! more deaths without helmets , wow, what a enlightening conclusion.  

Someone over there has rocks for brains with that legislation.

Whoops, sorry moderator, a wee bit political there.

[amazondk]

Motorcycle use has boomed here in Brazil.  Since it is a more affordable form of transportation than a car and most people do not have all that much money motorcycles have become more common than flies in a stock yard.  Our traffic is a lot more caotic than anything you experience in the States to begin with. And, now it has become even more complicated with all the motorcycles weaving in and out between the cars, trucks, and buses.  Helmet use is mandatory in Brazil.  But, like most things here that does not mean that people always pay attention to it.  One thing that never ceases to amaze me here is the human sandwich.  Some parents have the habit of carrying their young children around sandwiched between them on a motorcyce with the kid wearing no helmet.  In fact small childern are not even allowed on motorcycles.  Some of them do get stopped in the traffic blitzes the police set up, but I have no idea how many.  Motorcycles have also become very popular for criminals, from simple robberies to hit men.  When someone is murdered by contract here normally it happens with a motorcycle involved.  A bike with two riders pulls up to the target, the guy on the back shoots him and kills him, then they speed off.  Many of the car hijackings in the south, mainly Sao Paulo and Rio are done with motorcycles.  Two bikes pull up to the target car at a stop light, each with two riders.  The back guys are armed and jump off the bike when they get beside the car.  They then stick their weapons in the drivers head and get in the car and drive off.  They normally take the victim around to ATM machines to withdraw as much money as they can from their accounts and then let them go.  But, some times things turn out worse.  In Rio this has become such a problem that the state govenor has proposed a change in the law that would prohibit passengers on motorcycles.  But, since traffic legislation in Brazil is controlled from the Federal level the states can not change traffic legislation.  So, this is now stuck in a legal dispute.   Another thing that has become quite popular here is the mototaxi.  A grass roots, un regulated motorcycle taxi business has been surging.  Technically it is not legal to carry passengers for hire on a motorcycle.  But, they are now all over the place.  The guys have uniforms for their service and have organized into companies and coops.  I really would not want to put myself at risk as none have insurance, and for a cheap ride you could easily end up in the morgue.

Just a few notes from south of the border.  Not that this is relevant to you folks at other latitudes.  But, it may be interesting.  One thing I really notice when I go to the States are all the guys my age on big bikes.  From what I have read there are a lot of them meeting their end while enjoying the ride.

dk