Missouri to most likely jto be helmet choice in August

[Ozarkryder]

The Missouri General Assembly has passed a large transportation bill which includes helmet modification and will go to Governor Mike Parson. He will have 45 days to veto it (At this point this seems to be not likely, the bill is clean, and the Governor has said he will support helmet modification), sign it or do nothing. If he signs it or does nothing the bill will become law August 28. Anyone with a permit must wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or motortricycle, riders and passengers under 26 must still wear helmets, and medical insurance must be carried. Police cannot pull over a motorcyclist for the sole purpose of checking compliance of the age or insurance. I'm not advocating or condemning helmet use - I'll continue to wear one, but support the freedom to decide for oneself. Here's the official summary of the helmet modification portion of the bill:

HB 1963T

MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW

Currently, every person operating or riding a motorcycle or motortricycle is required to wear protective headgear (Sections 302.020 and 302.026). This bill provides that persons under the age of 26 who are operating or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle or motortricycle shall wear a helmet when the vehicle is in motion. Similarly, a person who is 26 or older, is operating a motorcycle or motortricycle, and who has been issued an instruction permit shall wear a helmet when the vehicle is in motion. No political subdivision of the state shall impose a protective headgear requirement on the operator or passenger of a motorcycle or motortricycle. No person shall be stopped, inspected, or detained solely to determine compliance with these provisions (Section 302.020.2). The bill also provides that qualified operators who are 26 or older may operate a motorcycle or motortricycle without a helmet if he or she is covered by a health insurance policy or other form of insurance which will provide the person with medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a motorcycle or motortricycle accident. Proof of such coverage shall be provided on request of law enforcement by showing a copy of the qualified operator's insurance card. No person shall be stopped, inspected or detained solely to determine compliance with these provisions. (Section 302.026)

[1dn5up]

My surrounding states have no helmet law , Conn. and Pa. NY does. But my helmet has a sun visor and keeps the sun out of my eyes. And the helmet keeps the sun off my cranium. Plus it’s a 1/2 helmet that’s comfortable.

When I was young and stupid , and cool , I wore a bandanna, ball cap , do rag , and they are alll on interstate roads. Not to mention how many times your pulling and tugging on them while riding .

Im not cool anymore , just fat and bald !

[ol' school]

As Frank stated, we have the no helmet law here in PA and while I support the freedom to decide for oneself I myself wear at least my half helmet as I have seen too many bad outcomes of not wearing one in my years as a FF/EMT. And my helmet saved what little I have in my head some years back.

[wehrme]

Illinois is not a mandatory helmet state, and I hope it never is.

Not because of me having to wear one (which I do), but our ahole Governor will probably require some kind of costly registration fee sticker placed on it.

[Motorcycle Mike]

I don't care what the law says.

I'm alive today because I had a helmet on.

I will continue to wear one.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Personally ... I don't wear one around town. But I do on trips, partly because the protection to the head from all things, including weather, bugs, rocks, etc. But mostly, on a trip I do audio books and I can listen at a lower volume with the helmet and I don't get a headache. I get the concept of all the gear all the time, but, if you really believe that, why don't people who drive a convertible wear helmets? The simple answer is, it's not fun to wear a helmet when driving a convertible. Why don't you need to wear seat belts in a car that was built before they were required equipment in some states? Because there aren't enough of those old cars around anymore to affect the insurance companies bottom line. That and the owners of those cars don't put huge amounts of miles on them and when they do drive them, they baby them.

I am and always will be about choice. I'm not ranting here (okay, maybe a little) there is only one reason any state has laws that require helmets, seat belts, or whatever. The new changes to this law requires medical coverage for motorcyclists, I'd be curious if it also requires car drivers to have that? Some lobby somewhere wants them to have that law. Why can you still be on the phone while driving in most states, the cell phone companies have one of the biggest lobbies around.

The insurance companies and phone companies are always running adds telling us not to use the phone or text while driving. If the NTSB really wanted to stop people from talking on the phone while driving, for about $4 in electronics, they could add blockers to the cars that would prevent it. But it's not about your safety or anyone else's, it's about getting the money in politician's pockets from the lobbies. You think VZW, ATT or whoever really want to restrict your cell phone use? They want you to become as dependent as possible on them. More $$$ for them. But, they play the good guy by running the adds to "Show they care about your safety".

To paraphrase the Health Commissioner of NYC, when the police commissioner of NYC requested 1/2 a million masks for his police, "The politicians don't give 2 rats a$$es about your head, health or whatever." They simply care about the money the lobbyist will put into their campaigns/pockets for doing what they want.

If the insurance companies had their way, we would all be wearing yellow leather coveralls, full face helmets, boots to the knees, gloves to the elbow and be tattooed with our id number on our right shoulder. Incase you forgot what Ralph Nader's plan for motorcycle safety proposed to the insurance agencies and NTSB, after he destroyed the Corvair. I still think they could have pulled it off if it wasn't for A.B.A.T.E. and other groups that fought the oppression.

I remember insurance companies telling their customers that if laws required helmets, motorcycle insurance rates would drop and lives would be saved ... LOL ... anyone who actually saw that, stand and be counted. There to this day is no imperical evidence that helmets save lives. If you have an accident and hit your head, they probably will. If the accident you have causes you to hit the helmet with any force, the rebound will break your neck. If you don't believe me, read the SNELL studies. Last one I read, and they are pretty much all the same every year. 51% of motorcycle deaths were wearing helmets, 49% were not.

Riding a motorcycle is a dangerous hobby. Wear a helmet, or don't ... wear the yellow coveralls, or don't ... but ... Never forget those that fought and some died for your freedom and right to make that choice yourself.

Disclaimer: Okay ... maybe this turned into a rant after all.

[Phu Cat]

Ol' School, As a FF/EMT you see many of the accidents, but keep in mind you don't see the thousands of us that ride without a helmet without any problems. (Just for the record, I wear a helmet.)

PC