Helmets and Motorcycles, there should be a law

OFF THE WIRE
BY CHUCK D
First, some Alpha Biker commentary.... I think we all know where the Alpha Biker falls on the topic of laws to protect me from myself... we will file them all under the "go fuck yourself" archives.
That said, people, where does the madness end... shall we outlaw smoking? ... alcohol?... cheeseburgers?... unprotected sex in the champagne room? .... give the world a break... and get a life of your own before telling me how I should live mine. And stop bitchin' to me about the incremental cost to society of helmet-less bikers until we solve for teen pregnancy, obesity, and cancer.
All that said.... congratulations Richard S. Buker, Jr., M.D. of Liberty County (how fuckin' ironic is that hometown)... you have earned the Big Hairy Middle Finger award.

It has been well demonstrated that wearing helmets while riding motorcycles results in a significant number of people surviving motorcycle wrecks. So the state has passed a law, which mandates that teenagers are to wear helmets. However, those states which require all motorcyclists to wear helmets have far better compliance than do states which require only teens to wear helmets. Evidentially if young folk see their elders wearing helmets they are much more likely to wear helmets themselves. Also enforcement is much easier if all motorcyclists are required to wear helmets.
At one time every state had laws enforcing the wearing of helmets but vigorous opposition to helmet laws has resulted in steady weakening of regulations until now only 21 states require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets, and three have no helmet rule for any age. With the relaxation of helmet laws there has been a significant increase in serious injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents.
Another serious aspect of motorcycle riding is the incidence of traumatic brain injury. Only recently has a definitive study been carried out on what happens to those who survive a motorcycle accident. In a study of 5662 hospital admissions for trauma 3% of admissions were following motorcycle accidents but 5% of admissions for traumatic brain injuries were following motorcycle accidents. Those with traumatic brain injury were followed to evaluate the severity of injury. 24% of head injury patients ended up with long-term disability. Patients with long-term disability were 3.6 times more likely to end up in a rehabilitation facility. Motorcycle accidents were 10 times more likely to die in the hospital than patients without brain injury. A comparison of states with youth specific laws requiring helmets compared to states without such laws revealed 38% higher incidence of traumatic brain injury where there were no specific laws.
When one considers that most severe motorcycle accidents occur in people with inadequate insurance or insufficient private funds end up on public assistance it becomes a serious problem for all of us.
If it were left to this writer strict laws about wearing helmets would be required of all motorcycle riders. A second rule would make all riders have permission to allow organ donation in all fatal accidents. From personal experience trying to find the next of kin to get permission to harvest organs is a big problem. Time is of the essence to get viable organs for transplant. Dead motorcyclists are usually young and are ideal organ donors, if only one can get the authorization as soon after death as possible.
Richard S. Buker, Jr., M.D.