Friday, January 31, 2020
To Change Helmet Law with no exceptions Essay Example for Free
To Change Helmet Law with no exceptions Essay Motorcycle is a popular means of transport in United States of America. It is used either for sports or purely as a means of travel. In Law terms motorcycle is defined as a motor vehicle that has rider’s saddle designed to be moved on the land by less than three wheels. Just like any motor vehicle, motorcycle has devices that are meant to protect a rider from: strong wind, falling objects and injuries in case of an accident. Protective devices include jackets, special pants, helmets among others. Helmets are very important devices that protect the rider by reducing the impact in case of an accident. It protects the head, one of most important parts of the body that houses the brain, eyes, nose and other vital organs. Studies have shown that in case of an accident most of the riders who had helmets had none or had less serious injuries. This shows how vital this protective gear is, it’s a matter of life and death. It is not enough to just wear a helmet a rider should only use a gear that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to ensure maximum protection.            United States motorcycle laws require that riders wear helmet but there are exceptions when it come to the age of a rider. States laws have the same exception clause for example in Florida if a rider is over 21 years of age one is exempted as long as he or she has a at least a medical insurance cover of 10,000 dollars while in Louisiana the law makes it optional for those who are over 18 years and has a proof of a medical cover of a at least 10,000. Some states such as Iowa and Illinois have no restriction as far as helmets are concerned. It is not mandatory to wear this protective device in these states. They leave it to the rider’s discretion to choose on whether a helmet will be part of their safety devices or not. (Adams J.G., 1983)            In  the September 1979 issue of Institute of Transportation Engineers journal Chang C.S states that laws recognize the importance of wearing helmets in protecting the riders against serious head injuries, but when it exempts some groups of people, their lives which it purports to protect are exposed from danger of their own making. These exceptions relaxes the law making it less effective in terms of safeguarding our safety at the same time entertaining violations since it is impossible to know whether one has fulfilled the conditions of age and personal accident cover unless thorough scrutiny is employed and in some cases an accident and probably death will have occurred.[34-8]            In spite of the fact that law requires people of minority age wear helmets, this age group is known to violate these rules and when an accident occurs they suffer serious head injuries which are in some cases fatal. At the same time accident knows no age boundary, riders who are over 18 years and in some states over 21 are prone to accidents. Therefore having exceptions on assumption that a person of majority age is either responsible or will ride cautiously is baseless.            Some of the motorcyclists who cruise on our highways at dangerous speeds are inexperienced and careless they not only put the lives of others in danger but theirs also. Since most of them are ignorant of their safety and so much in hurry, protective device will be the last thing in their mind but if some strict rules are put in place having no exemptions, the rider will stop and think about a helmet if not for protection to avoid rubbing the law enforcers the wrong way. This will go along way in reducing fatalities and permanent disabilities in our highways making them safer. Hurtunian N.S. et al [1983] in their article The economic of safety deregulation. noted that there are millions of motorcyclists in United States, this is enough to take some urgent measures and make our laws to safeguard their lives and make millions of others who directly depend on them have a peace of mind. [14] These policies were supposed to be in place yesterday meaning time is of essence, further delay indicates that many Americans will continue to die due to causes which are preventable. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report shows that more than 4000 motor riders died in United States roads in 2004, this figure represented an eight percent increase. Fatalities as result of motorcycles accidents account for five percent of all accidents in United States. If this is not enough to make our lawmakers take a step and put the necessary measures in place this figure can only move northwards.            Dare, C.E. et al [1979] argues that since it is mandatory for every auto mobile using roads in United States to have safety belts. It is not stated that those who are of certain age are exempted from this rule, since motorcycles use the same highways it leaves no doubt in my mind that the same no exception rule should be applied to motorcyclist. Applying laws selectively only makes implementation difficult. Motorcyclist in Illinois and Iowa are at the same risk of injury and probably death as those in Texas.Harmonisation of policies requiring use of helmets for all will make this man made machine a safe vehicle for use regardless of age.            It is common knowledge that motorcycle account for only two percent of all the motor vehicles that use our roads yet in terms of fatal accidents involving them the figure is a worrying nine percent, surely something must be done here. All motorcyclists should be required to have this device whenever on ride and this should also apply to any other occupant. In states where policies have been strengthened requiring all rider use helmet there have been a significant drop in fatalities. Through implementation of laws in California exempting no one in 1992 there was a reduction in fatalities by thirty six percent. Relaxation of rules has had serious implication with Texas reporting decline in usage of helmet and increase in serious injuries and fatalities. Luna G.k. et al in the August 1981 edition of The Western Journal of Medicine emphasized that helmets can save lives and I truly agree with his sentiments and its high time that our policy makes understood this and change the laws in all our states requiring all to wear helmets and help reduce the motor accidents fatalities and serious head injuries [135-9] Work cited Chang, C. A Cross cultural Classification of Effective Use of Helmets in motorcycle,   Accident Injuries, Institute of Transportation. Engineers Journal. September. 1981 Hurtunian N.S., Et al. The Economics of Deregulation: Lives and Dollars Lost Due to  Repeal of Motorcycle Helmet Laws. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. 1983 Dare, C. Et al. Effects of Motorcycle Safety Helmet Use on Injury Location and Severity:         Before and After Helmet Law Repeal in Colorado. Institute of Transportation            Engineers Journal, October. 1979; 14-18 Luna G.K. Et al. The role of helmets in Reducing Head injuries a From Motorcycle       Accidents: Apolitical or Medical issue? The western Journal of medicine. August,         1981. Adams J.G, Public Safety legislation and the Risk compensation hypothesis of   Motorcycle helmet Legislation Environment and planning. 1983; 45-50
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