Discussion
In short, yes, before you go on about how it saves so many lives etc. I know that, but education is the key to improving public safety not just creating more laws. The poilice have enough on their plate catching serious offenders without having to worry about whether or not a person has chosen to put their life at more risk than anybody else.
I believe laws should comply with three categories
a) They should benefit society being able to to live together in other words should protect people fromm other people. NOT nanny state to protect people from themselves.
b) They should be easy to enforce with no exceptions. eg SUVs are exempt from some parts of the car regulations (not right IMHO)
c) They make sence when applied to a situation. eg speed limits fail this criteria as a metal sign cannot judge conditions, traffic etc.
With seatbelts, people make a concious choice not to wear them. Thats their decision, who am I to say that they shouldn't be allowed to do so. I used to do high board diving using the same laws as seatbelts/helmets the sport should be banned because its dangerous.
I believe laws should comply with three categories
a) They should benefit society being able to to live together in other words should protect people fromm other people. NOT nanny state to protect people from themselves.
b) They should be easy to enforce with no exceptions. eg SUVs are exempt from some parts of the car regulations (not right IMHO)
c) They make sence when applied to a situation. eg speed limits fail this criteria as a metal sign cannot judge conditions, traffic etc.
With seatbelts, people make a concious choice not to wear them. Thats their decision, who am I to say that they shouldn't be allowed to do so. I used to do high board diving using the same laws as seatbelts/helmets the sport should be banned because its dangerous.
Sure guys, I'm not suggesting that for one moment we should all live in a cotton wool wrapped world. If you look at my profile you'll see that I managed to write off my scooby a couple of weekends ago by driving too fast on wet roads, my choice. The fact I was wearing a seatbelt saved my life. Now I know you're saying "it should be my choice to wear a seatbelt", and in most situations I would agree with you, but not this one.
My initial comment was not intended to sound as insulting as it has turned out to be. I just can't agree that this case should be left to the individual. Maybe it is as a consequence of my recent accident that I feel this way, before the accident I'm sure I would have been more rebellious as Nik suggests, but I'd also be in a box by now. (or several boxes probably)
My initial comment was not intended to sound as insulting as it has turned out to be. I just can't agree that this case should be left to the individual. Maybe it is as a consequence of my recent accident that I feel this way, before the accident I'm sure I would have been more rebellious as Nik suggests, but I'd also be in a box by now. (or several boxes probably)
I know a friend that refuses to wear a seatbelt because her mother was involved in a car crash. I can't remember the full details, but the suffering the mother got affected my friend deeply. She never wears a seatbelt 'cos of it. (and has been fined for it twice, still hasn't changed her mind oh and BTW she isn't an idiot by a long way.
Its all swings and roundabouts the question is AP is would you have worn your seatbelt if it wasn't the law? if so then the law was irellevant, if not ask yourself why not. I personally trust any government about as far as I could throw it, just because they say something is good or bad doesn't necesaarily make it so. As I said, I wore my seatbelt prior to it becoming a legal requirement.
Its all swings and roundabouts the question is AP is would you have worn your seatbelt if it wasn't the law? if so then the law was irellevant, if not ask yourself why not. I personally trust any government about as far as I could throw it, just because they say something is good or bad doesn't necesaarily make it so. As I said, I wore my seatbelt prior to it becoming a legal requirement.
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This is not a personal dig, I wasn't there, don't know the details etc. etc., but maybe if you had not been wearing decent gear you might not have been in the situation. i.e.
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I always found that wearing leathers made me ride faster!
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- in other words risk compensation.
Phil,
FYI I was doing 30 in a 60 limit, confirmed by police and witnesses. Unfortunately it was downhill and I was dragged some distance. I really enjoyed riding the R1 and recommend that anyone who wants to feel REAL power should try one.
I was lucky. The gear I was wearing means I have a second chance at life!! Please please please wear decent gear when riding a bike. You don't know how important it is until you need it.
Please mail me if you would like to see the x-rays of my pelvis and femur reconstruction.
Brian
Its a fact that a lot of bikers are decapitated every year because they are wearing helmets. Basically when the body hits something and stops from Xmph to nothing the head whips and the added weight and load applied from the helmet snaps the neck and pulls the head clean off. Lovely I know but a nice gruesome fact all the same.
Oh yes and for clarification I'm not advocating the non wearing of helmets for this reason as its also a fact that when your head hits something and stops from Xmph to nothing your brains come out your ears. Oh the joys of biking
Oh yes and for clarification I'm not advocating the non wearing of helmets for this reason as its also a fact that when your head hits something and stops from Xmph to nothing your brains come out your ears. Oh the joys of biking
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Its a fact that a lot of bikers are decapitated every year because they are wearing helmets. Basically when the body hits something and stops from Xmph to nothing the head whips and the added weight and load applied from the helmet snaps the neck and pulls the head clean off. Lovely I know but a nice gruesome fact all the same.
Oh yes and for clarification I'm not advocating the non wearing of helmets for this reason as its also a fact that when your head hits something and stops from Xmph to nothing your brains come out your ears. Oh the joys of biking
Cheers Mel, I was looking for some top post dinner party facts!
Matt.
quote:First no radio or ashtray and now this, terrific
Its a fact that a lot of bikers are decapitated every year because they are wearing helmets. Basically when the body hits something and stops from Xmph to nothing the head whips and the added weight and load applied from the helmet snaps the neck and pulls the head clean off. Lovely I know but a nice gruesome fact all the same.
Oh yes and for clarification I'm not advocating the non wearing of helmets for this reason as its also a fact that when your head hits something and stops from Xmph to nothing your brains come out your ears. Oh the joys of biking
Part of me wants to disagree with the helmet laws - you know, the rebellious "don't tell me what to do" bit. But the other part, the one that has been saved bad injury says it's a good thing. Even headbutting a pidgeon at 110mph would have killed - but it only broke my visor...
So regardless of law, I will ALWAYS put on the potty.
C
So regardless of law, I will ALWAYS put on the potty.
C
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