Should helmet law be repealed?

We should keep our helmet law. We should also ask why was a Fiscal Note for health care costs not attached to this bill?

I think it should be abolished. Freedom of choice was invented by this country and should be allowed in this case also. Besides, the insurance companies would love it!

As a motorcycle rider for over 40 years, I always objected to helmet laws, yet wore a helmet once the law was passed.

Over the years helmet design became much more friendly for the rider, and once it was on, the helmet was hardly noticed, except for the lack of getting hit in the face by stones, and the ability of being able to see in a rain storm, etc.

My face shield has been hit by pieces of shredding truck tires, and nothing happened other than my needing to buy a new face shield, and a big bruise on my chest.

In 2005 I had an accident, and I am convinced that the helmet saved me from a terrible injury. My head hit the pavement @ 60 mph, and then it kept hitting the pavement until I stopped. Lots of broken bones but I wasn't dead.

The helmet saved my life.

However with all that said, it should be up to the individual riders if they want to wear a helmet.

I wouldn't leave home without one.

I will bet anyone reading this $10,000 that elderly people slipping on ice cost the system much much more money than any motorcycle riders for long term care. So why do'nt we pass a law that any old people who walk on ice, without a valid reason to be outside, should be mandated to have seperate insurance on top of medicaid. If some old lady slips on the ice going to bingo I do not want to pay for it! That is your argument Rose, ready to pay up for that ice insurance?

If some idiot wants to roll the dice by not wearing a helmet, then go ahead and give it your best shot at cracking that egg. Because all kings horses and and all the kings men...

Apparently to some looking cool while they ride is more important than protecting their life for either their of your loved or themselves.

My brother would have been killed for sure about 30 years when he came crashing down the viaduct and hit a traffic sign post with the top of his head and breaking the heavy wooden post. However, he was wearing a helmet and survived according to the medics and the police. Since then, he has quit riding a motorcycle altogether.

We need a helmet law for motorcycle riders and they also need national mandated extra insurance at their own expense.

LIVE TO RIDE DIE TO RIDE ITS ALL THE SAME WHO ARE ALL OF YOU TO TELL ME I HAVE TO WEAR MY HELMET MY LIFE NOT YOURS OH YEA LIKE THE ICE THING THATS SLICK KEEP IT UP RIDE WITH PRIDE

All here including me have only thought of the medical bills caused by a bike accident that the rider would be billed.
None of us have thought about the fact if the rider is disabled or killed then, SS will be paying to raise and care for the wife and children. I as some one who thought wearing a seat belt in my car was not any thing I needed to do cause I was a safe driver I ended up in an accident caused by a careless driver and have been disabled for years and could not even get out of bed for 3 years. some years later I was in a roll over on black ice doing 65, all of us were belted in and we were not really hurt bad. Only cause we had a seat belt on. We love all of you bike riders as do your family please were a helmet.

I'm all about weeding out the idiots that would choose not to wear a helmet. If a rider is dumb enough to take that risk, they should probably be eliminated.

I feel the helmet law should be repealed. I feel the government shouldnt make riders have to wear helmets. I feel we should "let thoes who ride decide" I feel helmets are important,but cruising around town I feel going helmet free is alot nicer and more comfortable. Not only is it super hot wearing a helmet during the summer, it weighs your neck down and gives you a headache and blocks your vision and hearing.

I think people should mind their own damn business and let people do what they want. If someone is not wearing a helmet it's their freedom to do so and it is not taking any of your freedoms away by them doing so. Quit trying to control everyone else's lives.

I don't know why people that don't ride a motorcycle make such a big deal about people that do ride a motorcycle with out a helmet. I know that it is something that could possibly save your life. Us motorcycle riders who also drive cars could ask why don't people wear a helmet when they are driving their cars? How many auto accidents are there every year that the person sustains a head injury? We have to look at how many people "don't" get injured every year while riding their motorcycle instead of what "might" happen to that person if they don't wear a helmet. For those of you that are so worried about the helmet law: Do you wear a helmet while riding your bicycle? I really doubt it, and there is the same risk of a head injury.

I can see the point of people that feel they should be able to decide if they wear a helmet or not, but it doesn't just affect them. If you're in an accident and in the hospital in a coma unaware of what's going on or lying in a casket, it's your family that suffers. I think the immediate family should also have a vote on whether or not you wear a helmet.

I don't understand this. If helmets save lives, then logically thinking having a helmet law would cost more in health care because you wouldn't have to take care of everybody that is dead. I drive the highways and wear a full face helmet, but it would be nice to not have to take it off and put it on 50 times while running errands around town.

To Biker:

You can't be serious. Bicyclists are at the same risk of head injury as motorcyclists?!? Car passangers should wear helmets?!?

Maybe if somebody could go from 0-65 in 5 seconds on their bicycle I might agree. How many people die of head injury's riding motorcycles as compared to how many people that ride? Now how about cars? That's why.

If somebody wants to make the argument that riding motorcycles isn't statistically far more dangerous than cars or bicycles then I would love to hear the facts they use to back it up with.

All I'm hearing hear are a bunch of bikers trying to justify with irrational reasoning why they shouldn't have to wear a helmet.

Grow up, the law was created for a good reason. You're lucky they don't just make motorcycles illegal, they probably have the statistical justification to do so.

Do any of you know that is against the law to wear a motorcycle helmet while driving a car? Do you know why? Because they obstruct both your vision and hearing. So why do they make motorcyclist wear helmets? Doesn't make sense.

Everyone should have freedom of choice. There is nothing better than feeling the wind in your hair and smell the smells of the countryside.

of course the helmet law should be done away with. wwe should never have had it in the first place! I have been riding since I was 21 in 1968 ,been in 2 accidents !Never hit my head and always had my own Insurance,not motorcycle insurance. regular insurance also covers doctors and hospitals in case any senators need an education in how it works. thank you Nancy plotz

I think persons 21 yrs of age should
have the right to go without or with,
they know what happen when go down
without.

Repeal the helmet law and allow Natural Selection to take over to weed out the less desireables in society. "Its freedom of choice". Yes it is. So if you have the freedom of choice then why are you wearing one now? Because society and your elected officials determined that they save lives. Frankly I don't care if someone dies from not wearing a helmet. That tells me they were not that smart anyway and we don't need them in society.

I see Frank Burns from the hit series Mash has chimed in. Next he will want to call in the CIA to investigate the Tea Party in Nebr.

That's like asking if intelligence should be repealed.

(Based on some of these comments I would say it's in remission)

If you come across a helmet-less motorcycle victim on a day like today at least you could pack snow around their head and slow the swelling to decrease the amount of brain damage.

My brother was in a motorcycle accident 30 years ago. His helmet was on the backrest instead of on his head. The helmet was barely scratched. He's been in a wheel chair ever since. I know a lot of riders don't like to wear helmets but please think about it. No one wants to take away your rights, we just don't want to see you injured.

Isn't the criteria for a law primarily that it is designed to protect the rights of all and not to dictate our personal choices--the very freedom we all strive for.
For the record, I am not a motorcycle rider. If I were, I most certainly appreciate that I have the freedom to choose for myself (Thank you founding fathers & vets!).
I personally believe helmets and seatbelts are sensible choices but I didn't need a law to tell me that.
Simply put, going without a helmet is risky but it doesn't impose a physical risk to others in any way.

Somewhere recently I read a comment someone made that made sense -- "Helmet laws don't save lives; helmets do - seatbelt laws don't save lives; seat belts do."

Maybe we are just too anxious to "make a law"??

As long as there are people who need someone to tell them what to do, there will be people who support government intervention into our daily lives. Plain and simple. Remember that results of most research starts with the answer and then data is collected to support that answer!

As a family of avid bikers, i have heard about all of the people who avoid Nebraska when going on outtings with their bike's specifically because of the helmet law...how much money is lost each year in revenue during Sturgis when most people traveling from the south would go through Nebraska to get to South Dakota and go around???? It should be the individual person's choice, this is the land of freedom of choice, it's not like Nebraska is the only state not wanting a helmet law...how many other states already don't have helmet laws without any problems???? And 0-65 in 5 seconds??? Only if you're hotrod racing...people need to grow up and mind their own business!!! We don't tell you how to walk, talk, dress,actor carry on in general, so don't tell us!!!

Why dont we ban alcohol again, maybe ban red meat, non whole grain foods, and only allow everyone to use safety scicors as well.

Better ban any other "high" risk activities too. Baseball, football, golf, softball, basically anything the requires movement should be banned.

Please people. It is up to the individual to decide what risks they take with their own lives not anyone else.

From the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.

"ARLINGTON, VA — Supersports have the highest death rates and worst overall insurance losses among all types of motorcycles, new analyses by the Institute and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) reveal. Motorcyclists who ride supersports have driver death rates per 10,000 registered motorcycles nearly 4 times higher than rates for motorcyclists who ride all other types of bikes. Supersports are built on racing platforms but modified for the highway and sold to consumers. They’re especially popular with riders younger than 30. With their light weight and powerful engines, supersports are all about speed. They typically have more horsepower per pound than other bikes. A 2006 model Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, for example, produces 111 horsepower and weighs 404 pounds. In contrast, the 2006 model Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide, a touring motorcycle, produces 65 horsepower and weighs 788 pounds."

Therefore, I would not be opposed to mandating helmet use for individuals that choose to ride high-performance styled motorcycles even though some of these rides would find it discriminating. Other than that, please leave the rest of us responsible riders alone.

Wearing helmets on motorcycles seems very reasonable to me. Most states even require that for riding a bicycle without a motor.

Last summer two people were killed in two separate accidents within a couple weeks on E. 6th Ave. because the cars turning across oncoming traffic did not see the motorcycles coming. I don't remember any other deaths in Columbus other than these two motorcyclists, and I don't even remember whether they were wearing helmets or not.

I do, however, agree that people who do not want to wear helmets or seatbelts in cars deserve their demise. Laws cannot stop stupid.

I wear one in high traffic areas because of the other people in 4+ wheelers doing other things(cell phone-texting-spaced). Other times(out of state) enjoying the sound of the motor and smelling nature.
I would rather die in an accident without a helmet than be a vegetable and be tortuered the rest of my socalled life watching others do what I can't.

usually when you have a car-motorcycle accident its the cars fault. they say o i didn't see it, so how is a helmet going to help a car see it.

It should be repealed!!!! Not but a couple of states even have this dumb law!!! Every accident is different, some riders have been killed with their helmet as the pavement pounded the helmet and broke his or her neck. A good number of bike wrecks have been caused by idiots texting when they should be paying attention to whats going on around them! No one seems to care about this issue!! I ride and I think helmets suck!!!

i think its stupid that it aint our choice personally i think they should get rid of the law, we loose a lot of business from people that avoid nebraska just because of the helmet law

Safety glasses and other safety equipment are required for many places of employment.

Option 1) keep the helmet law because bikes have no air bags or seat belts
Option 2) repeal the law and make motorcycle riders automatic organ donors.

Yes it should.

I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that when either Nebraska's helmet or seatbelt law was passed (can't remember which one it was) there was an ultimatum of sorts floating around that Nebraska would not receive federal highway funding unless the law passed. I understand that helmets and seatbelts can in many cases (though not all) save lives. HOWEVER, let's not forget that there are always political motives when passing laws that dictate personal choice. They may have been initially introduced out of a sense of moral outrage or injustice, but most of the time they are passed because of political motives- not altrustic ones.

Repeal the Law!!! Make it so 18 or 21 and under are required to wear helmets. 21 or over get to make their own choice, it should be the riders decision. There is a lot of lost revenue at Sturgis time from riders avoiding the state of Nebraska because of the law. I ride and I do where my helmet some of the time, depending on what I am doing or where I am going. You can not protect me from the 4 wheel driving people who won't look for us and pull out right in front of us. We know the risks, we take motorcycle safety training classes to protect us from non-motorcycle riding folks, many of them who are for the helmet law, because gosh darn it we just have too many rights, lets do away with some, especially if it doesn't affect me!!!

Have a great day!!!

I'm 6 feet 1 inch tall and 320 pounds and I still fit into your blind spots. Even with a Bright orange shirt I can be hit by other drivers in their 4 wheelers. I was properly wearing a helmet and sustained an injury to my head and neck in this accident and my head never came close to the pavement. I ruptured several vertebral disks because the neck is not designed to support the additional weight of the helmet. Wearing a helmet decreases the chances of getting brain injury and this is proven, however statistics show that it increases the impact of the incidence of thoracic and cervical spine fractures, which are additional injuries sustained in motorcycle crashes not just head or brain injury's. It is this reason I believe that helmets increase the risk of spinal fractures. I therefore believe that helmets should be optional for each individual rider. I still ride to this day and love every minute of it.

Iwould have never thought that there would have been such diversity of opinion on such an issue. It seems to me that common sense would require helmets, but after reading some of the posts, and the reasons for such, there may be some question as to the need for helmets.

If the cycle riders are required to have proof at all times of high cost insurance, or suffer the consequences of cycle confiscation, then so be it.

I do not ride cycles, but I do know that they are difficult to see during the day or night. I've had some scary close calls with these folks.

Driving a motorcycle is privledge granted by the state. Privledges come with responsibility. The freedom argument is so weak and a smoke screen. We do not and it was never intended that we would have absolute freedom...that doesn't work. There are a million of responsibilities required by the government. This is one of them.

Charlie Jannsen from Fremont has shown how he can waste more time in this short session than any other Sen. Nice Job Charlie.

Where are the bills that really matter to people in Nebrasksa?

I really think its a bad idea to get rid of that law. I believe that the helmets have saved a lot of lives. I know a lot of riders think that it affects their hearing and also limits their vision, but since I have never riden I guess it isn't my opinion that counts. CJ

I appreciated what one of the Senators (an opponent to this bill) eluded to during the debate today. "An individuals rights to make PERSONEL decisions STOPS when the rights of many individuals are affected", i.e. every Nebraska citizen will pay for motorcycle accident victims that live, were not wearing a helmet, are now in a vegetative state, and can’t pay their medical bills.

Therefore, I it is prudent that our state senators create laws that PROTECT ALL OF US from ANY RISKY ACTIVITY that society participate in. No more Husker football, no more rodeo, ladders cannot be utilized to put up Christmas lights, do I need to go on. Bottom line, all of the aforementioned activities have some amount of RISK associated with them and we ALL accept this risk. If someone unfortunately is seriously injured CHOSING to perform ANY RISKY ACTIVTY, we ALL get to pay the medical bills, long term health care, etc. when the individual runs out of money. Repeal the helmet law.

I think the helmet law should be repealed there are to many of these idiot bikers around....good way to get rid of a few

re:
Dude
I have'nt rode since the middle 80's. But your comment is way out of line. Bet your mom and Dad are bursting with pride. You would wish someone dead? In case you havnt priced them lately, motorcycles are not cheap and are a bit of a luxury, so you're probably doing well in life to afford 1. Did some biker skip out on you and your Mom when you were born? As far as I'm concerned you owe an apology for that rude comment. What the hell is wrong with people? Do you say something like that just to get a rise out of people?? And they say we are civilized. God help us.

First off, I don't wish death on anyone, but I see opportunities here with repealing this law.
1) more insurance sales, with premiums reflecting a person's choice of helmet or no helmet.
2) more available organ donors. We are sadly short on available organ donors.

I say repeal the law and make alot of people happy!

If you think it's cool riding without a helmet. Would you still think it's cool if your laying almost dead on the side of the highway? Didn't think so!

I'm one who is happy this failed. Those of you who don't like it, move out of Nebraska where you can experience the good life elsewhere !!!

My husband & I both ride. Every weekend in the spring, summer & fall we ride out of state and spend the whole weekend spending our money there. We have been thinking of moving there. This made our decision! We will be taking our 6 figure salaries with us! Thank You non-riding people for getting me & my kids out of Nebraska! I have always hated how my freedoms are governed here (not just the helmet law)!
Just think if all of us riders move to a neighboring state & take our money with us,...Nebraska would probably become the poorest state in the USA!

Wear a helmet. End of discussion. Or I'll kick you upside the head with my size 12's and then sick Mikey on you!

Hey I say its your choice! But also know that you should carry good insurance cause I don't want to pay for any of your hospital bills or therapy or rehab for any injuries that might occur cause you didn't wear one.

The rider should have the choice. If we are looking to save the state money on health care cost then we should have a bill that makes anyone wanting to have a kid show they can pay for it before they have one,so the tax payer dosen't have to pay for it. pull your heads out of your wazoo. its a free country.. Billy Bob

To: If we all move...

I doubt bikers are what keep NE so prosperous. I think NE would find a way to remain in good financial standing without you or anybody else that feels the helmet law is a big enough reason to leave the state.

With your attitude I can't say that I would sad to see you, your husband, your six-figured salaries, and your feeling of over importance leave our great state. I'm sure that dirty old Missouri would welcome you with open arms. Get on with the gettin' on.

I believe if everyone wore a helmet while driving their car, there would be less fatalies. If the world's best drives at NASCAR and Indy feel the need for helmets in a carefully controlled driving environment driving with other highly skilled individuals, then we certainly need them out on the pubic highways where anything could happen.

Oh, and wearing a helmet might also cut down on cell phone usage, another safety plus.

Ha, I must've hit a nerve! Who said anything about Missouri? They are one of the few (like Nebraska) who still have a helmet law! You might wanna look around at how many people ride motorcycles. As someone else said before, most motorcycle riders now a days are people with prominant standing in their community's and are financially responsible! More than you can say about the people driving vehicles, alot of them don't even carry insurance or enough anyways! If we all left, you be broke!

Okay so here it is. No More Helmets! Driver education is the trick here. DRIVERS, not riders, need to be educated on where motorcycles might be so to help in avoiding a collision. At least 3 states now REQUIRE drivers to pass motorcycle awareness sections of the DRIVING test. Suprised? Whats wrong with drivers actually LOOKING for motorcycles? Share the road, o yee of 4 wheel ineptitude!

To: If we all move,

Move on now. What an example you set for your kids by being a proponent for not wearing helmets. Verges on being negligent.

Take your kids and husband where you are welcome and where the flies can fly up your nose and eyes. Use your 6 figure wealth for a good insurance policy for all of you.

To Oh Please.. Being able to ride a motorcycle is a PRIVLEDGE? We we never meant to have absolute FREEDOM? Are you even an American? That is what this country was founded on. The founding fathers wrote The Constitution so that none of our freedoms shall be infringed. You shouldn't be so quick to give up your freedoms. With freedom comes responsibility and eventually consequence.
To anyone who thinks that motorcycle riders cost the state or anyone but their families money in medical expenses must be Obama voters who think that all health care is covered by the government. A motorcycle is considered a motorized vehicle and the same laws governing cars cover them. We have to have insurance. Statistically more motorcycle riders have health coverage than car drivers.
As far as long term affects of accidents go.. People pull the plugs on vegetables. Families pay for para and quadriplegic persons. As BADD said, wearing a helmet may save you from being a vegetable, but it increases the chance of becoming disabled.
It is a moot point by now but I just wanted to try to get some of you opposers to look at it logically instead of emotionally.

There is no way the helmet law should be repealed. I cant believe they want to do this. Helmets save lives just like seatbelts. Keep the law.

Well I guess if some moron doesnt want to wear his helmet, he shouldnt have to but why take the risk. what kind of brains do you have, if you dont wear a helmet. This is nuts. People need to think and not be dumb. Wear the helmet and save your life. We are human, we all make mistakes and it doesnt take much for someone else to hit a motorcyclists. It saved the life of a maintenance man I knew in Missouri.

I say yes more people would'nt be hurt as bad in a spill i also fill sholder an knee pads be used as well. I have a x brother in law who has a mind of a 10 year old who now is 55 he had no helmet in his crash only if he did mabe things would of been better in his wreck. Gosh people no worse the a darn seat belt law we live and learn

I've been riding for over 25 years and unfortunately have witnessed more than my share of accidents with motorcycles. Pretty much every sever accident I have seen with a driver or passenger no wearing a helmet has not been a pretty site and the aftermath of the accidents are heartbreaking. Those I have witnessed wearing helmets were not pretty either, but after a few bones were mended those people were able to get on with their lives without many issues. For those of you that thinks helmets are a hindrance and a nuisance you've got to get over the "it can't/won't happen to me" mindset. I count myself among the lucky motorcyclists having ridden for as long as I have without an accident. Facts are facts, helmets help save lives. We have seat belt laws in cars which amount to the same type of thing helmets do on a motorcycle. I've seen points on these responses that they "obstruct hearing and vision", well so does a bug, rock, hailstone, rain drop, etc.. when riding a motorcycle. For those of you who would dispute that, then you've never ridden. You get hit in the face going even 40 mph with a rock kicked up from a car or truck or worse yet come up on a flock of birds on the roadside that scatters into your path you'll be damn glad at that point that you are wearing a helmet.

Now as far as the freedom of choice issue. Lame argument, won't work, didn't for seat belts in cars and I'll let you figure out why that is on your own.

One of the issues is the insurance companies. If you want to ride without a helmet and are so passionate about it, then put your money where your mouth is. When you setting up your insurance plan the agents should be able to adjust your rate at that point if you don't ride with a helmet. Let's face it, insurance is a game of risks, if you drive an expensive vehicle it costs more to insure it than a clunker, not becasue of the driver but the risks involved with the entire package, cost of vehicle and driver. We all know that youth drivers have higher rates because of in experience and the likelihood of more damage. That's pretty much what happens in most cases involving a motorcyclists who wasn't wearing a helmet in an accident, more damage, more risks for the insurance company.

Check out the following link for more information. It was released in 2004, but still has dome interesting data on this subject and no I don't work for an insurance company or the DOT.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/new-fact-sheet03/motorcyclehelmet.pdf

Ride safe everyone!

I'm all in favor of repealing the helmet law along with all these other nanny state laws we are creating. I don't ride a bike and could care less if someone has a helmet on or not. This nation and state needs to start electing people who want to repeal some of these intrusive laws instead of coming up with some other personal freedom restrictions.

I believe that everybody reaches an age when they should take responsibility for their own actions. I believe that there's absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a helmet if the rider choses. People have different ways of enjoying their lives and who are we to tell them what and what not to do. You take skydivers,one mistake and use your imagination.. And my all time favorite bull riding. Someone strapped to a 2000 pound bull with an attitude....

Everyone knows that bikers ride around just to make noise and turn heads. Its a nuisance. I say leave the helmet law, that way some guy who has self esteem issues isn't riding up and down my street making loud wana be hard a$$ noises.

It should be a freedom of choice to wear a helmet or not. For the insurance part, well what about car accidents? Alot more people get killed in car, truck and semi accidents then motorcycle. Should they have a set of higher limit on there insurance?
What about the laws that we have when a motorcyclist is killed by a vehicle they only get a $500.00 fined and nothing else, but someone that has too many dogs get a $2500.00 fined and probation. The point is that it should be a choice not a law.

I am against the helmet law. One negative I see is that if this law is passed, it will encourage the local biker gangs to all get the same helmets. This can only mean bad things. When biker gangs start wearing the same apparel more gang wars will take place in my opinion. Vroom vroom.