Why MUST we wear a seat belt in an enclosed car, but have CHOICE to wear a helmet on a motorcycle? Rediculous!

Question

I'm doing a school essay and I could use some more opinions on if I make sense to argue this point across.

I just don't understand how a law to wear a seatblet could be approved and at the same time a law to have an option to wear a helmet is approved.

I just think it is completely insane.

Answer 1

BECAUSE IT IS THE LAW.................................

Answer 2

I have asked this question over and over again and it is insane....

Answer 3

Because on a motorcycle theres a vary slim chance like less the 10% that the helmet will save you in any way. In that 10% its a high chance you will be parallelized for life. Seatbelt's have a much higher rating like 30% or so to save life's without the parallelizing effect.

Answer 4

Arizona does not require citizens to wear helmets while riding motorcycles; however, they are aiming to pass a law about texting go figure. This has not become a federally mandated law and is left up to the states to make the decision. Some states do not wish to enforce this law as they feel it could hurt tourist industries. However, this all goes back to the fact that some feel that the government should be our mother and protect us against everything, while others feel that those who are stupid enough not to follow the rules can do so at their own personal freedom. Here's another food for thought in California those under the age of 18 are required by law to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle as well.  Utah is also another state that does not enforce helmets on motorcycles.

Answer 5

You are right,  it is insane.  

But look at the bright side,   without a helmet  riders are less likely to survive and run up expensive medical bills.

Answer 6

In New Hampshire...everyone 18 and under must wear a seat belt in the car..and a helmet on a motorcycle. Most people over 18 do wear a seatbelt just because of all the attention that the seatbelt issue has gotten...I suspect it's the same way for people over 18 to use a motorcycle helmet.

I'm not sure where you are..but I think it should be the same way for all 18 and younger people to wear seatbelts and motorcycle helmets.....if the adults don't care to use them....then that is their choice but they will have to live with the consequences one way or the other if something happens to them in an accident.

Answer 7

I have never riden a motorcycle before.  But if I did, I wouldn't want to wear a helmet.  I'd probably wear one if I were riding on the expressway due to the faster speeds.

It's funny though, because everytime I get in my truck, before I start it,  I buckle my seatbelt.

Answer 8

I don't know what state you live in, but here in CA, helmets are mandatory for class M (motorcycle) vehicles...That goes for GA too.

Answer 9

It depends on the state or province  BC has a helmet law  but east Indians are fighting it because there religion says they must wear a turban.

Answer 10

Since when has the government done anything logical?  It's just another way for them to make money off of traffic tickets issued for no seat belts.  That is the ONLY reason for the seat belt law.

Answer 11

it is a law to wear a seatbelt where to wear a helmet is optional. it doesn't matter what you think about it, it only matters what the law is.

Answer 12

You have some good questions, there really is only one to me that is the right thing to do for just reasoning, that's the seat belts for the safety of a person. Alittle story, three women were going shopping, the driver pick up the first lady,ask her to put her seat belt on, she did, the next stop which was near where they were going shopping the driver pick up the last lady. The driver ask that lady to do the same, but the lady said that it was't that far to the shopping center so didn't put her seat belt on. Just before they reach the shopping center a driver went thru a stop light, the car hit their car so hard that only the two with seat belts lived, the other that didn't put hers on was thrown from the car and killed. There are a million and one reasons given why people don't want to wear their seat belts, but there are far more reasons to do it the right way.

As far as the helmet, that where the brain power is so that needs to be protected. It's hard to understand just like a bullet proof vest, because only certain areas are being protected, but unless you have been involved with an accident where these items saved a life, it's hard to understand the reason..

My advice, no matter how ridiculous and insane, there is a reason for the need. I have a brother-in -law that retired from the Calif. Highway Patrol and I would read some the magazine he would get, no one knows what takes place on the highways and in cities, where if the person or people had done the right thing, they would be alive today.

Answer 13

I live in CA and its the law to wear a helmet but where you live its an option? that is rediculous.

Answer 14

Motorcycles are ridiculous in general when it comes to safety features if you compare them to cars.  

Cars have so many mandatory safety features like air-bags (for your head, side impacts, side curtains etc.) side impact beams built into doors, rollover protection, seat belts, electronic stability control etc., etc., that it makes me wonder how it's even legal to SELL motorcycles in the US at all.

Motorcycle riders have helmets (if they choose to wear one - some states it's mandatory, some it's not) and leather/kevlar synthetic leathers (again, if you choose to wear them) and that's pretty much it for safety features.  

"Insane" is the exact word that came to my mind too.

Answer 15

I used to date a woman who worked at a rehab facility.  She was always talking about the people that were head injured while in a motorcycle accident.  She said that the cases that the most sad were the ones that realized that they used to be very smart and now couldn't do the simplest things.  Wearing a helmet is a choice in Ohio, but a stupid one...

Answer 16

I'm wiht you on that, in fact i just asked a question on pretty much the same subject.

Answer 17

Because you live in a society that is becoming more and more liberal every day. The view of the government is that you are stupid and it is their job to protect you from yourself.

The sad part is the liberals in this country do need to be protected from themselves.

Statistics show that seat belts save lives. The evidence is overwhelming. Not so overwhelming with helmets though. Give it time and you'll have to where a helmet to drive a car too.