Motorcycles and Turbans?

Question

I recently saw a motorcyclist not wearing a helmet but wearing a Turban instead. I spoke to a friend who is a Police Officer and he said that because of their Religious Beliefs they do not have to wear a helmet. I understand that Sheiks do not remove their turbans in public, and one assumes that there is not a crash helmet large enough to go over their head and Turban. My thoughts on that... If for any reason someone cannot conform to the law, then they should not be riding a motor cycle. However any fool who rides a motor cycle without a crash helmet, can`t have much brain anyway! Even pedal cyclists should wear head protection. I don`t want to get into the old `one rule for them and one for us` argument, it is a waste of time. If people insist in putting their lives in danger then let them. It is the people who have to `patch them up` that I feel sorry for.

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the subject ...

Answer 1

Some very interesting answers - though i cannot help but be annoyed by the people ranting on about the rider's choice to wear a helmet or not and the fact that he's only going to hurt himself.

Sadly, is that it is NOT just the "idiot on the bike without a helmet" that suffers - as you quite rightly put at the bottom of your question.

IT IS THE POOR PARAMEDICS, POLICE ETC. THAT HAVE TO SCRAPE HIS BRAINS UP OFF THE FLOOR!!!!!

Imagine having to try to go to sleep that night after having to find ALL the pieces of skull, brain, scalp, hair, face spine etc etc etc..... need i go on?

How can people so ignorantly say it is just the rider that will suffer?! And I haven't even mentioned the devastation to his family that his death would cause!

Answer 2

Well, thanks for giving a bit of consideration to the Sikhs, not SHEIKS.

How do you know that their heads are not sufficiently padded by the customary turban?  Its their head, and no concern of yours.  I suppose that sort of Bigotry is still popular in some areas.  I am appalled to see it here and now.

Note this is an INTERNATIONAL FORUM.  We do have substantial numbers of questions from India, so we undoubtedly DO have some Sikhs asking questions. Try to STIFLE YOUR prejudice and bigotry, and keep a civil keyboard at your fingertips.

Answer 3

Helmets should be a choice , i live in florida i go with out most of the time other times i have it on my thought is when the man has your number he has your number ! id rather die on my bike than die of a heart attack or cancer

Answer 4

This ruling came out when the wearing of helmets became law.  Personally I have never seen a motorcyclist wearing a turban, all the people I have met take off their turban and wear a helmet---common sense prevails

Answer 5

Actually, while a helmet is definitely, a good idea,

the principle that the government can require

that one be worn, is an unwarranted infringement

on the riders freedom.

There are proven cases where a helmet has caused an accident

(by restricting peripheral vision eg.).

It should be the riders choice.

That said, that turban of the Sikh's offers about as much

protection as a helmet.

There's a lot of padding there, and being twined in his hair,

it's fastened in place.

Answer 6

i suppose a turban is better than a nothing at all... either way if you crash or get into an accident on a motorcycle, you generally lose.

Answer 7

just one thought  they can have a turban on  but i can not? even if a Sikh does it for me, why because i am  not a member of there religion now that is discrimination,

but i am not against it they put up a good fight to be exempt from  having a crash helmet on i  remember it well,

to the idiot who thinks the Sikhs are  Muslim you tell that to a Sikh & see what he does,

Answer 8

wow...what you say is true..but being friends with many people of Muslim decent myself...I will just let them ride without a helmet...

its just that their ancient belief can't live up to modern technology...

(just like the samurai...and look what happened to them)

Answer 9

So where is this favortism to religion rather than upholding the law taking place?

If this is happening in the U.S.,  I can see some lawsuits and some police officers getting their a$$es kicked.

Answer 10

California:  Your religious beliefs won't help you when your head hits the ground.

Buhl v. Hannigan

Answer 11

sounds like this guy should give delboy a ring he needs a trotters crash turban i always said that guy was a genius

Answer 12

The law demanding the wearing of helmets which came into effect in the U.K. in 1973 should never have been passed in the first place, since a person should be free to decide for himself what steps, if any, he takes for his own protection (just as the 1983 law demanding the use of seat belts in cars has no place in a free society).

That aside, however, the granting of a helmet exemption for Sikhs in 1976 was, and still is, a gross unfairness which results in inequal application of the law.  Even if we accept the basic premise of compulsory helmets, the law should either apply to everybody or to nobody.  

I vote for the latter.

Answer 13

why do some have dots ? and why do some have Turbans ?

Answer 14

Sikhs can remove their turbans if circumstances make it appropriate - like when they play sport.  However, they are not supposed to wear any head protection other than a turban.  This is an important religious rule for them and is why they are exempted from wearing crash helmets.

When it comes to riding a bike, a Sikh turban probably gives much the same protection as a polystyrene helmet.

Answer 15

wearing a helmet should be a choice. just like drinking alcohol, just like smoking cigarettes and just like eating at burger king. of course youre stupid not to but it should be your fn right to protect yourself or not. if anything should be law it should be that you must wear eye protection.

Answer 16

In Great Britain, it is compulsory to wear a motorcycle helmet at all times, when riding on a public road.

Sikhs are the only people who are exempt from this law (in respect of their faith).  This exemption was granted in 1976.

Answer 17

i dont care what any one thinks but everone should were a helemt as one of my faimly was saved by one of them.

Answer 18

yet its right, shiki's do not have to wear them by law..i have a shiki friend who had corroberated this...

i also believe they are all allowed,by law ,to carry a sacred blade[large curved knife]

Answer 19

Del Boy Trotter, the character from Only Fools and Horses (UK Sitcom) came up with a solution to that in the 80's. The fools should take notice of that!

They should at least be made to wear eye protection, that way they're not endangering other people

Answer 20

Well the idea of a turban (or as its actually called a ''pag'') is to cover the hair many of my male sikh friends wear hats alot of the time theycover their hair which would mean you could still wear a helmet........ I think it is wrong to have one law for one and one for another but I guess the only people who are going to suffer is the poor guy who comes off his bike with no helmet. So in my experience there is a way around it because as long as the hair isnt on show it is ok not to be wearing a ''pag'' although I do understand alot of sikh men do wear them always sooooo maybe they should drive cars lol

Answer 21

funny, my friend is currently taking her test and came across this when studying for her theory....bloody crazy.

Answer 22

sid.....all the rest of them are kick-starts

Answer 23

oh god, way to go.... a question like this is bound to cost me another account, or at least a violation

this turban thing really pisses me off, they fled their backwards culture to come to ours and improve their lives... and yet insist on keeping parts of their culture.  if an immigrant can't conform to the law, they shouldn't have come here to begin with.  a turban is proper head attire for riding a camel, not a motorcycle.

deport their asses back home is what i say if they can't fit in to the culture they opted to join here!