Today, I was asked, “Do you favor a repeal of the motorcycle helmet laws?” I thought I would post my response here for everyone:
Yes.
I agree with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) which states, “Although the Association strongly encourages helmet use by all motorcyclists, it maintains a long-standing fundamental belief that adults should continue to have the right to voluntarily decide when to wear a helmet.”
One of the reasons such laws exist is because of the state-funded portion of emergency services provided to those with severe trauma following a motorcycle accident. Helmets can reduce head trauma, but as the AMA states, “helmet use alone is insufficient to ensure a motorcyclist’s safety,” and forcing cyclists to wear helmets is not going to reduce the need for emergency services when cyclists have accidents. Education on safety, required by a road test or safety course to obtain a motorcycle endorsement from the NC DMV, goes a longer way to creating a safe cyclist than requiring specific equipment.
Therefore, it is my stance that the government should not spend its valuable financial resources enforcing this liberty-violating restriction against adult cyclists. Additionally, the government should protect the rights of others from being held accountable for that individual rider’s decision, forcing the rider to be responsible for his own safety choices.
Read the AMA’s complete statement, including regarding minors who are motorcyclists or motorcycle passengers, at the following link: http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/positions/helmet.asp
