Seatbelts mandatory but not motorcycle helmets!

United States
January 5, 2007 9:46am CST
The laws are crazy in my state. It is mandatory to wear one's seatbelt, however, motorcyclist are not made to wear helmets. If it is about safety, then why the difference? Can anyone shed light on this discrepancy? Do you feel that both should be legislated?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@armywifey (882)
• United States
5 Jan 07
I think it is crazy that they don't have a law for motorcyclists to wear a helmet. It is 10 times as dangerous to ride a motorcycle than drive a car, and they should definitely have a law that states a helmet should be worn. Being a First Responder I have seen a few motorcycle accidents, where they could have survived if they were wearing a helmet.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Jan 07
Yes, I too have seen numerous people with severe head injuries from motorcycle accidents. Face it, when one's head hits that hard pavement it is going to suffer damage! Perhaps if we are to have no law about wearing a helmet then there should be a law that insurance or governemnt funds do not have to pay for your injuries! That way, the rest of us do not have to suffer increased premiums as a result of the insurance company's having to pay!
@carmat (2849)
• Canada
27 Jan 07
I really do not see the logic in that one, where we live they are both mandatory. It only makes scence to drive with a helmet or seatbelt.
1 person likes this
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
7 Jan 07
This really surprises me because it has been compulsory for many years. The first state to introduce the legislation was Victoria Australia in 1970, followed by the rest of the Australian states and territories in the next couple of years. With regard to motorcycle riders wearing helmets, once again Victoria was the first state in Australia to meke the wearing of them compulsory and that came into effect in 1961. Victoria (Australia) was the first state anywhere in the world to make it compulsory to wear the helmet when motorcycle riding. The rest of the Australia states and territories following suit in the next few years. Similarly it is compulsory for bicycle riders to wear helmets here in Australia and from memory those laws came into effect in the late 1980's. Our road laws here are in the main State government rather than federal government laws, but on some things they are all the same. I cannot understand why it is not compulsory everywhere for motorcyclists and bicyclists to wear helmets, for their own protection and safety. ame applies to wearing of helmets. In fact both bike riders and motorbike riders have to wear helmets here in Australia
• United States
27 Jan 07
I feel that this should be legistated so that all the states have the same rules on both.