Helmets and goggles. Who wears them and who don't?

[Old Syko]

Since this is a gun and hunting site, I just got curious who wears them and who does not.  Here in Indiana we don't have a helmet law for motorcycles or atvs.  Atvs are allowed to be driven on the county roads but not state highways or interstates.  To me at least, this makes sence as I will always believe we have too many laws governing what we have to do and aren't allowed to do.

If i'm here at home streching fence or using the wheeler for 1 of the other hundreds of things I got it for I won't even think of a helmet.  Even short rides to the neighbors, just a few miles of county roads or across the fields, I won't bother especially in the summer.  Long rides or sport rides with the 20 something young crowd I won't go without helmet and goggles.  Cold weather also plays a large part as a thinsulate hood with helmet and goggles can't be beat to keep you warm.

I guess what it comes down to is I feel it should be up to the individual as long as they are of legal age as to whether or not they think they need the added safety.  So, who wears em and who don't and why?

[Bullseye]

Well when I ride around southern IN. I do not wear a helmet or goggles.  I do wear safety glasses with side shields.  If I go to the the Badlands in Attica I wear a helmet and goggles (of course it is a rule to ride there).

Make my kids wear a helmet whenever they get on them.  Why them and not me?  Guess I am smart enough to protect them but to stupid to protect myself!  When doing work around the farm I never wear one, but really should when out on the trails and buzzing through the hay fields trying to see how fast that thing will go.

[DirtyHarry]

Unless I am at the track, where it is required, I do not wear a helmet. I do usually wear goggles though....

[markc]

like we are all pretty much the same.  On the lease or working around the house I don't wear a helmet or goggles,  but if going to ride for fun in Natl forrest land it is required so I dig out a helmet.  On my motorcycle now, I always wear a helmet, shorty skid lid.
markc

[Siskiyou]

You never known when it is going to happen!  I was in a line of cars going up a paved mountain highway.  We were doing about 45 MPH.  In front of me a guy was riding a full dress motorcycle.  The rider had full leathers the same color as his bike.  His helmet was also the same color.  As we rounded a sharp curve a gray squirrel ran out into the roadway.  When the squirrel and front wheel came in contact the rider shot about ten feet into the air and came down on his head.

I hit my red lights to stop traffic and protect the injured party from traffic with my vehicle.  I called for an ambulance, grabbed a first aid kit and went to the riders aid.  Others also stopped to help.  A large amount of blood was coming from his mouth.  His leathers had done their job, and the was scuffing on them but not on the rider.  An examination of the mouth showed that he had bit the inside of lip very deep.  A roll of gaze brought the bleeding under control.  

His custom helmet may have saved his life.  The helmet was cracked and broken, but his head was not.  

Just a few months before I responded to an accident where a young sailor had lost control of his motorcycle going around a curve.  He was not wearing a helmet.  When the front wheel came in contact with an oak tree he came off the bike.  His head hit the same oak tree.  Crushing the skull and popping eyes out of the skull.  The oak was a small diameter tree.  If he had been wearing a helmet (maybe) his head would have slide to the side, the helmet absorbing the damage.  Who knows.  His new bike had about 60 miles on it.  After the funeral the family returned the accident scene and said a prayer for him.

Yep, got more.  When I was on patrol I came around the corner on a dirt road.  A motorcycle and a Toyota Landcrusier had hit.  The rider was bleeding out.  His leg was badley mangled.  There was flesh in the cooling fins of the motor on the cycle.  He had turned side ways trying to get away from the Toyota.  His leg was caught between the motor on the bike and the front bumper on the 4x4.  There was a large dent on the front of the 4x4 hood from his helmet.

First Aid was compresses on the open wound, and an air splint on the leg.  The compression of the airsplint controlled bleeding, and the broken bone.  His head had been saved by his helmet.  A helicopter flew him to the hospital.  I do not recall whose fault the accident was, but the folks in the Toyota were uninjured.

Some months later a family group came to the Station and found me.  This guy was thanking me for saving his life.  It was not until he told me his story that I realize he was the guy involved in the above accident.  His leg was now an inch shorter and he walked with a limp.  He had spent months in the hospital and rehabing.  He suffered no head injuries.

When I go riding I wear a helmet, and leather gloves.  I am not into riding motorcycles now days.  I have been to the accidents.  

As a young marine back from Vietnam my brother road his Harley up the mountain to visit me.  He went on patrol with me over the weekend.  During that weekend I responded to seven motorcycle accidents.  This was an adnormal number of motorcycle accidents for one weekend.  But they had an effect on the young marine.  His helmet was no longer on the seat behind him, when he left it was head.  He was also wearing his leather jacket and gloves.

[ghostZ]

I don't ride ATVs anymore but I ride both dirtbikes and road motorcycles now.  I would say in my 20,000+ miles on roads i have been without a helmet for about 40.  I almost always wear either leather or an armored textile jacket.  In the dirt the only time I don't have a helmet on is when I am either riding in my yard or street(in town) at a low speed listening to the dirtbike.  I have hit the ground hard enough with my helmet on to know that it is the thing to do.  Infact when i was a kid my buddy riding on the back of my 3 wheeler cracked his helmet when I took us out in a field.  

DRESS FOR A CRASH!!!!

[markc]

and made alot of accident scenes in my patrol days.  Now with 32,000 miles on my 2001 model Suzuki, I have been hit once and almsot hit another time or two.  I am so enjoying riding,  but think that when the time comes to retire this bike, I will not buy another street 2 wheeler.  More likely a new Jeep Scrambler.
markc

[Dogshooter]

I wear my helmet and goggles if it is raining or snowing or just cold. Can't hunt with them on but I don't hunt off the machine anyway. If the weather is nice I don't wear them. I'm too damn old to go very fast anyway......

[str8shooter48]

New York State law mandates. Registration, Insurance and a helmet if ridden off your own property. Permission from the landowner doesn't cut it anymore. We were warned this year.
See my other post  "ATV's in New York State"

[dbuz]

I always wear a helmet when riding for fun. I wear goggles about 25% of the time, but it is tough when it is dusty. When I am hunting I dont wear one much unless I am in a hurry. I've rolled my 03' Vinson twice, so I know I need one while playing.

[lynx/cat-trapper]

I'm new to the ATV field...but an old timer to motorcycles. I wear a helmet ALL the time when I go "out of town"...very seldom in town. An atv would be the same.
Let me share an experience with you...I am a bit of a daredevil...never been scared of much.
My street bike is a 1428cc turbo charged Kawasaki with an ADDITIONAL 100hp of NOS...just so when I want to REALLY get silly. It puts out over 300 hp w/OUT the NOS. Three years ago I ran an 8.36 sec 1/4mi at 167mph...w/OUT the NOS(capable of EASY mid 7's at around 180+).  OK>>OK..OK...here we go.
I was piloting what is called the F-18..an actual jet engine propelled motorcycle(ge-t58 engine out of a sarkoski helicoptor)which puts out an estimated 1700 thrust HP with the afterburner....OK..that tell you how "whacked" in the head I am???
We'd been having problems with the braking system but I STILL chose to drive it.(we'd driven for two days to get to Odessa Tx to an IHRA track..I'm in Idaho)
Brake failure...brake lock up.... I slid thru the 1/8 mi(I beat the bike thru the light) at 138mph....ON THE GROUND.
Good leathers...good boots..good helmet.
I ended up with a pretty broken up knee and a tore up shoulder...both requiring surgery...BUT if it hadnt been for safety equipment....well...I wouldnt be here today!!! NO I wasnt planning on crashing...NO ONE plans on it...just be prepared for it!!!
later
lynx

[alaskaman444]

I was glad to see that there were more replys stating that they wear their helmuts than said they didn't.  Here's a different perspective that I didn't see but feel needs brought up.  If there is an accident involving a car and a motorcycle and the motorcycle driver gets killed because he wasn't wearing his helmet does the car driver get charged with involuntary man-slaughter or just at fault in the accident?  Is it the car drivers fault the motorcylce driver wasn't wearing his helmet?  The point I'm making is there is more to wearing a helmet than just your own saftey.  Your decision could affect someone else's personal freedoms, or cause them to become a felon un-neccessarily.  Me, I wear my helmet anytime I leave my driveway, which means I'm not plowing snow and only using 1st gear.  My kids wear their helmets before they even touch the four wheelers.  Nothing bothers me more than to see kids riding down a trail or road with no helmet on.  In my personal opinion it just plain irresponsibe for the parents not to educate the kids on the dangers of riding without a helmet on.  I've gone on enough now, I'll get off my soap box.
 

[Old Syko]

Regarding your scenario of car vs helmet-less rider, what would be the difference between that and car vs helmet-less pedestrian.  Gross negligence such as drug or alcohol use is the determining factor in whether or not criminal charges are filed.  Is it grossly negligent to walk across the street without a helmet.  Not where I live.

[alaskaman444]

Good point, I never thought of that way.  But there's one more point I'll make and I'll leave it alone.  When a pedestrian leaves his home is there a any real justification for wearing a helmet while walking down the street?  In my opinion no, because there aren't supposed to hazards on the sidewalk that would require him to wear a helmet.  When a motorcycle or ATV rider leaves his home there are all kinds on known hazards that, in my opinion, would require him to wear a helmet.  A person walking down the street is maybe walking 2-3 miles per hour.  Could a person get injured at that speed?  Yes, they could; but not likely or very severely.  A person riding a motorcycle or ATV down the street/trail is going any where from 25-65 miles per hour depending on the road they're on.  I ask again, could they be injured at those speeds.  I say most assuredly yes!  Most likely any speed over 15 MPH is potentially lethal.  That's why even bicycle riders are encouraged to wear a safety helmet of some kind.  Concerning your comment about gross negligence due to alcohol or drugs that, again in my opinion, is besides the point.  If someone gets killed in an accident the level and depth of the investigation of the accident goes up; from what I have witnessed with my own eyes.  If it's just a fender bender and no one gets hurt really seriously the trooper or policeman takes statements, maybe a few pictures and they're done.  If someone gets killed the road gets shut down and the forensic team gets called in to investigate.  I've never heard of someone going to jail for being at fault in a fender bender; unless there's drugs or alcohol involved.  But I have heard of people going to jail when someone gets killed in accident and they're were found to be at fault regardless if drugs or alcohol is is involved.  I guess the bottom line is that in a car or truck there are safety systems built into the vehicle to protect the driver.  On a motorcycle or ATV there very little or no safety systems built into the vehicle to protect the driver.  It's my opinion, and it's just my opinion, that motorcycle and ATV drivers should be required to where a helmet not only for their own safety but for the safety of those around them.  Thats a long reply and I won't debate it any longer.  Hope I haven't offended anyone.  Thanks    

[markc]

Amazing that this thread has come back to life, since it was originally posted in Nov 2003.   Driving a Yamaha Rhino with enclosed cab and seat belts I still don't wear a helmet, but wear goggles out in W. Tx to keep the dust out of my eyes..

[Old Syko]

Mark, ever drive a Rhino with a windshield in place?  Good friend of mine put one on his along with a type of bimini top to avoid dust and debri only to discover at cruise speed it caused a vacuum to form right behind the windshield that sucked everything in on the driver.  He's now back to wearing goggles and using only the top.

As far as the helmet issue goes, I couldn't care less who wears one and who doesn't since it's none of my or anyone else's business what the other does. 

Alaskaman, are you overweight, underweight, do you drive over the posted limits, skydive, smoke, drink, have high sugar count, high blood pressure, stare at tv or the computer too long, live under power-lines or in any other way live your life in a manner that costs the rest of us for your own actions?   If so should you be "required" as you put it, to make changes also or would that be an imposition on your rights? 

[alaskaman444]

Like I said, I'm not debating it any more.  I've made my point and tried to let to let it go, twice.  You keep trying to make the point that I'm wrong.  I'm guessing you started this thread to find someone to disagree with.  If your looking for an argument Old Syko your gonna have to look somewhere else.  I agree to disagree with you on whether ATV and motorcycle riders should wear hemlets.  If it makes you feel better I don't like it any more than anyone else to be "told" to do something; especially by the government.  But sometimes when we're being told to do (or wear) something it is for our own health or safety.  Just for the record- I'm not over weight, I have both high blood sugar and pressure, I do live under power lines, and I think skydiving would be a lot of fun!  Maybe you and I can get together sometime, have few beers; and celebrate the our right to disagree with each other and still be neighbors.  Have Fun!

[markc]

Okay, gentlemen, I think each has made their point on wearing helmets etc... So, lets leave that alone now before it becomes too personal.   Old Syko, Yes I have a hard top and full flip up glass windshield on my Rhino, plus a roll up rear window.   When the conditions are dry which they have been this summer for sure, I end up flipping the windshield open and driving slower.  No dust issues with the window open, but when it's closed, depending on where I am driving it can become quite a problem.   That's when I wear goggles and a bandanna.