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From: mjranum@gouldsd.UUCP (Marcus J. Ranum)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Helmets restrict Vision !
Message-ID: <152@gouldsd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 6-Aug-86 17:17:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: gouldsd.152
Posted: Wed Aug  6 17:17:32 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Aug-86 01:31:46 EDT
Organization: Gould Inc, ASDD, Landover, MD
Lines: 40
Keywords: helmets pain death blood good fun



	Another one I always like is the "helmets restrict your vision"
argument. While this is (arguably) true, there are a few comments I want
to make:

	1) any rider who habitually shifts lanes relying only on his/her
rearview mirrors (or a casual 5 degree turn of the head) won't be on the
road a long time. (They'll scrape 'm off with a shovel eventually.) Only
the most brain-dead of idiots fail to turn their heads at least 90+ degrees.
All it takes is *ONE* little truck, and I am confident that I can hold a 
straight course long enough to look at what I'm about to lane-shift into.
Mind you, it's not the LAW to look where you drive, it's only a good idea.

	2) all you libertines and anarchists out there are seldom heard
to be bitchin' and wailin' the blues over the fact that most states require
*BRAKES* and *REARVIEW MIRRORS* and *TIRES* (with or without treads) and
maybe even *HANDLEBARS*. Be real. Nifty things like brakes and such have
become so universally recognized as useful that people seldom argue with
that law. Time to wise up and understand that helmets are a good enough 
idea that everyone who has a brain worth keeping should wear one. Since
you can't make a helmet part of a motorcycle's standard equipment, making
it illegal to ride without one is the next best course. 

	3) a friend of mine dropped once at a mere 30mph and tore a gash
3" by 1 1/2" out of her Shoei TF250 helmet. She bruised her knees. Let's
end this stupid argument for once and for all: would you bareheads out 
there please replicate this feat and then make a posting to the net after
you get out of the hospital ? If you can, with 5 cubic inches of your skull
missing, not only will I eat my words, I'll eat the disk drive they're stored
on. Knock yourselves out.

Live Free
mjr

"anarchy - it's not the law, it's just a good idea"

-- 

*All opinions expressed aren't even mine, let alone those of Gould, Inc.*