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From: kgdykes@watbun.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cycle,net.auto,net.politics
Subject: re Re Seat belts, Helmets and Freedom of Choice
Message-ID: <473@water.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 27-Jul-86 06:23:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: water.473
Posted: Sun Jul 27 06:23:12 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 28-Jul-86 00:57:20 EDT
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Xref: watmath net.cycle:1860 net.auto:11925 net.politics:17777


>From: junk@ur-tut.UUCP (Jan Vandenbrande)
>
>> ...However, I opposed the enaction of the
>>mandatory seatbelt law in California for the same reason I oppose mandatory
>>helmet laws; it's my business what I do with my body....
>        Indeed it is anyones business what they do with their body.
>But who pays for a person to be patched up after an accident? The insurance.
>And who pays the insurance? Right, we all do (so I hope). And now it
>becomes my business too. If I indirectly have to pay for you to be
>scraped from the pavement and be reassembled, I'd rather have your,
>mine and everyone's elses freedom diminished a bit by requiring
>everyone to wear protective devices such as helmets, seatbelts, etc.
>The small sacrifice is worth the benefit.
>
There are studies that show how helmets cause more damage than they
save (such as spinal injuries) and cause GREATER insurance costs.
When there is impact with the head, the greatest damage comes from
SUDDEN DECELERATION of the brain against the skull, helmets don't help.
The safety of helmets is NOT CUT AND DRY, and as such I see it
as a particulary rude intrusion on my rights when I'm forced by law to
wear one.
In many states were there are no helmet laws, but have driver-rider education
programs, the number of collisions, head-injuries and over-all medical
costs are GREATLY REDUCED. And the savings are greater than the cost
of the educational programs.
Also, most fatal or very serious accidents involving
motorcyclists not wearing helmets have been with some combination of
 - unlicenced rider
 - drunk
 - drugs
 - voilation of laws (speeding)
The majority of motorcyclists just dont get into head-splitting accidents.
I have been involved in several accidents caused by external-forces, and
its always been leg injuries!

  - Ken Dykes
    {ihnp4,decvax,allegra,utzoo}!watmath!watbun!kgdykes
EDUCATE DON'T LEGISLATE!