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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Congressional Motorcycle Caucus grows: Cost isn’t all

OFF THE WIRE
http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=43511

 Congressional Motorcycle Caucus grows: Cost isn’t all
In the debate about whether to keep requiring motorcycle helmets to be worn, one side often refers to the public cost of treating crash victims whose injuries are more severe because they didn’t wear one. The same argument could be used to justify many other coercive laws.
Let’s grant that unhelmeted riders have a greater risk of more severe injuries if they crash, and if they don’t have money or great insurance, the public may end up paying for their care. But isn’t the same true of lots of other activities, some risky and others routine.
Consider the cost to the public of mountain climbers who fall or are lost and require a rescue response. The cost argument, taken seriously, would justify a prohibition on ascending Mount Hood.
Consider the staggering public cost of diabetes brought on by bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. That cost runs into the billions and must dwarf whatever cost is involved in the relatively few motorcycle crashes without helmets.
If public cost is the main basis for keeping the helmet law as is, we need a law on proper eating and exercise next. (hh)