Motorcycle Helmet Usage

The exercise of helmets in the join States is a highly controversial military issue. The government has enacted and then repealed laws intended to push state helmet laws twice. Currently, regulation laws vary state to state. Twenty states have ho enforce-to-house helmet laws. S plane states require riders under the age of twenty to dig a helmet, while 19 states require riders under the age of eighteen to smash one. Only three states, Colorado, Illinois, and Iowa, have no helmet regulation whatsoever. Motorcyclists protest their individual(prenominal) publishdom, while others complain about the tax burden and higher damages rates. pedals account for less than 2% of wholly registered vehicles in the United States and 0.4% of all vehicle miles traveled. Unfortunately, riders account for more than 9% of all traffic deaths. oer the past ten divisions wheel related deaths have increase by about 89%.The motorbike is both the most discharge efficient and the most hazardous hi ghway vehicle on that point is. to a greater extent than 2,500 motorcycle riders die in the United States each year, and over 60,000 atomic turning 18 injured as a result of an possibility. In general, riders and non riders experiencem to harmonise that it is obvious that a helmet can reduce the chance of brain suffering and death.However, some believe helmets atomic number 18 more likely to driving an accident in the start place. Helmets limit hearing and peripheral vision capabilities which start out it hard for riders to be fully awargon of whats going on around them. The weight of the helmet, combined with hot weather can cause a sense of claustrophobia resulting in anxiety and dizziness. It is likely in these types of situations in that respect is an increase in the chance of an accident. It is also possible to become inactivate because of a helmet during a fall, under the right circumstances. This leaves some riders to believe there are resembling risks whether they wear a helmet or not and they should be able to choose between to two.Some riders simply feel that helmets are self-conscious and bulky, and it should be their own decision whether or not they want to wear one. And to others, they perceive the use of a helmet as uncool, which is enough vindication for them.Contrary to some beliefs, a study by the internal Public work Research Institute concluded that the use of a motorcycle helmet does not interfere with the drivers capability to hear or see what is going on around them.Data collected by the National Highway Traffic Administration regarding motorcycle accidents in states where there is entirely a helmet law for minors indicates this type of helmet law is more difficult to enforce. The data showed that less that 40% of minors killed in crashes were have on helmets, even though it was required by law.When a catastrophic accident has occurred, the monetary burden is usually placed upon private insurers or the state. So in a state where there are multiple head injuries due to motorcycle accidents which require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, tax payers and others who direct insurance are monetaryly affected. As a result, a soma of people do support enforcing the helmet regulation laws since they feel directly impacted.The driven Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) conducted an analysis of three states with the honey oilplace helmet laws and three states without. The inpatient charges for brain injury were double the cost in the states without the universal helmet laws. Numerous studies have concluded that motorcycle crash victims who were not wearing helmets are less likely to have insurance than crash victims who were wearing helmets.Others are less concerned with the financial burden, and more concerned with the psychological impact of witnessing a gruesome disaster, or having a booster dose or family member die in such a manner. fit in to the National Highway Traffic S afety Administration, (NHTSA) head injury is the number one cause of death in motorcycle accidents. A take after conducted in 1998 concluded that 46% of fatally injured motorcyclists were not wearing helmets. The NHTSA estimates that helmets diminish the possibility of death by 29% in a crash. In 1989, sestet states enacted a law requiring the use of helmets. All six have seen a reduction in deaths from motorcycle accidents since then.In 1980, motorcycle rider fatalities reached a record high of 5,144. By 1990 the numbers had decreased to 3,244. For the year of 1997 there were sole(prenominal) 2,116, an all time low.Other research indicates that helmet laws importantly decreases fatality rates, saves taxpayers money, decreases money lost due to missed work, and reduces the validity of head injuries. A study carried out in California showed that during the first four years after the elimination of the federal sanctions, motorcycle deaths increase by 61% while motorcycle registrat ion increased only by 15%.In Hawaii, research conducted by the Department of Transportation showed that motorcyclists are three times more probable to suffer a traumatic brain injury as a result of a motorcycle crash.The accuracy of statistical information is questionable. It has shown to be difficult to retrieve financial and medical information due to privacy rights and a lack of data. more(prenominal) information has been successfully collected from surviving crash victims than ones who did not survive. there may also be other contributing accompanimentors to these accidents besides the fact they werent wearing helmets. Different weather and the length of the riding gentle can have a significant impact on the alter statistics.Other alternatives to reducing the number of fatalities have been suggested. Riders tend to be more verifying of raising safety awareness and mandating education before obtaining a license, since it is common for motorcyclists to learn to ride without any type of education.In Japan, the new motorcycle riders may start off with the smallest sized motorcycle, and after a set amount of time they are allowed to graduate to a larger motorcycle. If similar regulations were mandated in the United Sates, the number of fatalities could decrease without helmet laws.Some place the blame on inattentive automobile drivers. It is common to see automobile drivers talking on their cell phone, eating, drinking, etc. Distracted drivers are less likely to use blinkers and potentially more likely to hit a motorcyclist they did not detect previously. An emphasis on defensive driving because of these types of disasters in driver education could help promote safety and reduce motorcycle-related injuries.Small incentives could help promote the use of motorcycle helmets, rather than a mandate law. For example, a reduction in the cost of motorcycle insurance for wearing a helmet might be beneficial. Some motorcycle stores have been known to give away f ree helmets, or offer to install free two-way communicators in them in hopes to encourage the use of helmets.While the majority of the public seems to support a mandatory helmet law, the majority of actual motorcycle riders support freedom of choice. There are good arguments supporting both sides. This is a highly debatable topic similar to ones right to risk dying of lung crab louse because they choose to smoke. It is highly unlikely a compromise will be made that is deemed reasonable by both sides.Works CitedDepartment of Motor Vehicles. Helmets A guinea pig of Choice? 5 December 2006 http//www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/motorcycle-chouces.phpSMS Research & Marketing Services, Inc. March 2004. Motorcycle Helmets Integration Report. 5 December 2006. http//www.hawaii.gov/dot/publicaffairs/safecommunities/reports/motorcyclehelm ets/motorcycle-intergration.pdfSMS Research & Marketing Services, Inc. January 2004. executive director Highlights. 6 December 2006. http//www.hawaii.gov/d ot/publicaffairs/safecommunities/reports/motorcyclehelm ets/motorcycle-focusgroups.pdf