| There has been a big debate about cyclists | | | | include cycling at high speeds and running red |
| safety and helmets. Perhaps one of the biggest | | | | lights. In this view, helmets give cyclists the |
| discussion was when coming up with reasons not | | | | benefit to reach their destinations faster and this |
| to wear a motorcycle helmet. Most people argue | | | | makes them less safe. It is not true that the use |
| that helmets are only good for a speed of up to | | | | of helmets is only justified in cycling because it is |
| 15-18 miles per hour. If one goes faster that this | | | | more dangerous than driving or walking. The risks |
| and gets an accident, the helmet will not save his | | | | of cycling are almost the same as those of |
| her life. It is a choice for each person to wear a | | | | pedestrians. |
| helmet or not. A study reported in the American | | | | Wearing a helmet decreases the chances of |
| journal of Public Health reveals that the | | | | getting brain injury, but increases the impact of |
| abolishment of motorcycle helmet requirement | | | | the incidence on the thoracic and cervical spine |
| for adults has been linked with a rise in | | | | fractures, which are sustained in motorcycle |
| motorcycle fatalities. Although the researchers | | | | crashes. Helmets have been said to increase the |
| argument is based on the universal helmet laws, | | | | risk of spinal fractures. When coming up with |
| the impact of these helmets is modest. | | | | reasons not to wear a motorcycle helmet, |
| Some anti-helmet law activists dispute that | | | | comfort was a big topic of discussion. While |
| helmets that are on balance, reduce motorcycle | | | | buckling up a seat belt is painless for many people, |
| safety. This is because they make riders reckless, | | | | wearing a motorcycle helmet is not. This is |
| make their heads heavy or impair their vision, | | | | because the helmet is heavy and it covers most |
| sensitivity to pressure and hearing abilities change. | | | | of the rider's head. This can be sweaty and tiring |
| However, there is no much evidence to support | | | | especially when it is hot. When sitting on a |
| this claim. It does not seem to have a very big | | | | spotlight under 100% humidity with the sun |
| effect but in principle, the fatality rate should not | | | | heating up so hard and heat coming off the road, |
| matter. The right to ride with no a helmet should | | | | one may even pass out. There have been |
| not center on around how huge the risk is. In | | | | reported cases of motorcycle riders passing out |
| addition to questioning how effective helmets are, | | | | on the spotlights with their helmets on. |
| motorcycle activists have suggested that helmets | | | | Motorcycle helmets are viewed as stifling and |
| contribute to causing accidents because they | | | | confining meshes and forcing motorcycle riders to |
| impair hearing, increase fatigue and impair | | | | wear them ruins their freedom experience. |
| peripheral vision. When an accident occurs, the | | | | Helmets are believed to increase the chances of |
| additional weight increases the risk of spine and | | | | attaining severe injuries on the neck and offset |
| neck injury. Most motorcycle riders have attested | | | | the chance to have a brain injury. Most people |
| that helmets are an unsafe obstruction to vision. | | | | argue that wearing motorcycle helmet and seat |
| The argument as to why motorcycle riders | | | | belts are a personal decision and should not be a |
| should wear helmets is not firm because of the | | | | state law made by government. People have still |
| Peltzman effect. Cyclists wearing helmets take | | | | not come up with satisfactory reasons on |
| the advantage of an increase in safety and in | | | | whether to wear or not to wear a motorcycle |
| return take more risks. Some of these risks | | | | helmet. |