Missouri: repeal of motorcycle helmet laws sees deaths jump 47%

[butters]

In 2020, the state of Missouri began allowing certain riders to go helmetless. These motorcyclists must be older than 26 and carry proof of health insurance. Why proof of health insurance? Because the CDC estimates that caring for motorcyclists needlessly smashed up by helmetless crashes costs the U.S. $1.5 billion annually.

Despite all these stipulations, motorcycle deaths in Missouri immediately rose. We only have data for the first three riding seasons since the law passed, but deaths are up 47%. With 174 riders killed last year alone, 2023 was the deadliest year for Missouri motorcyclists ever.

it's not rocket science.
but despite the evidence, there's no move to reinstate the helmet laws. go figure.

Nelson said, "I don't think any one area, including public policy, is the silver bullet to fix any of this. These are layers of protection to improve safety…That begins with public awareness, education, certainly public policy has a role to play in that enforcement of that public policy."

Committee Chairman Don Mayhew was a bit more blunt, "I don't disagree that the helmet laws made a difference in the number of fatalities. I think that's pretty obvious."

After listening to Nelson's report, neither the Committee nor the greater Missouri State House of Representatives discussed reinstating the helmet law.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/mot...p&cvid=265e326bb92e4bb4b801e2a9e7290424&ei=13

 

[Rob_Royale]

Call me a sociopath if you must, but am I alone in thinking this is just natural selection at work?

 

[Escierto]

If this was happening in a state where most of the people are not worthless cretins, then I might give a fuck. As it is I am sorry it's not 1740 cyclists killed or 17,400 or better yet 174,000. After a few years of this carnage the population of Missouri would much reduced, a good thing for everyone.

 

[dkovic77]

Call me a sociopath if you must, but am I alone in thinking this is just natural selection at work?

Who needs helmets?

 

[Fuzzy1975]

it's not rocket science.
but despite the evidence, there's no move to reinstate the helmet laws. go figure.





https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/mot...p&cvid=265e326bb92e4bb4b801e2a9e7290424&ei=13

I'm sure seat belts and children's car seats can't be too far behind.

 

[RoryN]

If any of their brains got on my car, I'd sue the state.

 

[TrailerHitch]

If this was happening in a state where most of the people are not worthless cretins, then I might give a fuck. As it is I am sorry it's not 1740 cyclists killed or 17,400 or better yet 174,000. After a few years of this carnage the population of Missouri would much reduced, a good thing for everyone.

Geezus you are a fucking asshole. You are happy people are dying and you are also happy specific people are dying. Kind of your version of the final solution.

 

[TrailerHitch]

It always struck me funny when I lived in Wisconsin that the law required people in cars and trucks to wear seatbelts but that motorcyclists didn't have to wear a helmet. Seems obvious to me that a helmet could save lives. Their lobby was strong in Wisconsin.

 

[wizzard426]

LIARberals don't need helmet laws. They have nothing to protect!

Besides that.......motorcycles have those nasty polluting IC engines................is there more hate?

 

[Bn2f]

Geezus you are a fucking asshole. You are happy people are dying and you are also happy specific people are dying. Kind of your version of the final solution.

The essence of this post is that a repeal of a regulation that saved lives showed a direct increase in deaths. You, because you can't help being the terrible and clueless you that you continually show yourself to be, decide that going back 80 years to Germany and the Holocaust instead of citing your second most and more relevant loved thing of guns (Having your tongue up wat's ass being #1). How about talking about the ending of the Assault Weapons Ban and the subsequent increase in mass shooting deaths? Also, and probably harder for you to answer - Why are you, you???

 

[Bn2f]

It always struck me funny when I lived in Wisconsin that the law required people in cars and trucks to wear seatbelts but that motorcyclists didn't have to wear a helmet. Seems obvious to me that a helmet could save lives. Their lobby was strong in Wisconsin.

Lemme offer up a somewhat muted apology to you as I did not see this as I was constructing my last post. Anyone dying IS bad. Motorcyclists dying IS bad. Good on you for highlighting this. I am also concerned about specific people being killed and therefore I still think you would do better addressing not only the ending of Missouri's law, but the assault weapons ban rather than talking on the Holocaust.

 

[RoryN]

Geezus you are a fucking asshole. You are happy people are dying and you are also happy specific people are dying. Kind of your version of the final solution.

Did the "gods" on Truth Social recently instruct all of you Deplorables to invoke Nazis every time you post?

 

[Buffalogurl]

No, let those who ride decide.. what is it with some people? this is none of anyone's business if a person doesn't were a helmet or a seat belt , or for that matter runs with scissors... fuck'en stay out of other people's lives.... if these son's of bitches would just mind their own business they'd have plenty to keep themselves occupied .... nine times out of ten the fucking car turns left in front of the motorcyclist causing the wreck or changes lanes forcing the motorcyclist off the road... maybe just maybe, if the drivers of cars would pay more attention to the fuck'en road instead of their fuck'en phone.... we'd have less trouble.... FWIW

 

[YDB95]

No, let those who ride decide.. what is it with some people? this is none of anyone's business if a person doesn't were a helmet or a seat belt , or for that matter runs with scissors...

In the case of seatbelts at least, it can be hazardous to other drivers or other people in the non-belted passenger's car. A body bouncing around the passenger compartment in an accident can do a lot of damage. Helmets, I suppose there's minimal or no risk of injuring anyone else, but it can certainly be psychologically hurtful to, say, the driver of a car that a motorcyclist sideswiped if the motorcyclist ends up dead where they otherwise might have survived. No surprise that you don't care about that, though.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

No, let those who ride decide.. what is it with some people? this is none of anyone's business if a person doesn't were a helmet or a seat belt , or for that matter runs with scissors... fuck'en stay out of other people's lives.... if these son's of bitches would just mind their own business they'd have plenty to keep themselves occupied .... nine times out of ten the fucking car turns left in front of the motorcyclist causing the wreck or changes lanes forcing the motorcyclist off the road... maybe just maybe, if the drivers of cars would pay more attention to the fuck'en road instead of their fuck'en phone.... we'd have less trouble.... FWIW

Basically, yes. If you don't want to wear a helmet, I don't see why you should have to, and it is kind of a Darwin thing. OTOH, I have no fucking idea why anyone who rides would not wear a helmet. Helmets are not perfect in eliminating head injuries in a bike crash, but they go a very long way in minimizing them. I saw a German study of the types of helmets which are most effective, and the full face type seem to be best. That said, having worn full face helmets, I find that they reduce peripheral vision unacceptably.


Based on my experience, the biggest danger to bikers on the road is people on their motherfucking cell phones while driving.


I also imagine that I'm the only rider posting in this thread, so . . . .

 

[wizzard426]

I raced cars, trucks, bikes, tricycles go karts and toolboxes

However, I always used the best Snell rated not the mediocre government DOT crap. I can understand why nobody wears those

Regardless, squids will squid, riders will ride

\m/

 

[Wat_Tyler]

I raced cars, trucks, bikes, tricycles go karts and toolboxes

However, I always used the best Snell rated not the mediocre government DOT crap. I can understand why nobody wears those

Regardless, squids will squid, riders will ride

\m/

Because there is a difference. I remember the old Bell ads which asked basically, "if your head is worth $9.99, then wear a $9.99 helmet. If not, wear a Bell." Research continues, so keep the fuck up ahready.

 

[JoePepsiCo]

Don't put your fat ass on a motorcycle.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Pffffffft!!!

 

[JoePepsiCo]

I see a ton of safety features, especially the roll bars...

 

[Wat_Tyler]

That model even offers ABS optionally and at additional cost.


We passed on that one . . . .

 

[JoePepsiCo]

Passing puts you in my blind spot. The F150 is gonna win every time.

Maybe someone does need to get her fat ass on a bike with her pink, pussy-hat designed helmet...

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

I’m an avid motorcycle enthusiast and would never think of riding without a helmet. I have no objection to helmet laws at all. Missouri isn’t the only state that doesn’t require helmets but I’ve observed that even in states where they’re not required, most riders have sense enough to wear them anyway.

That said, the information shared in the article doesn’t explain the various causes of the 174 total motorcycle deaths last year in MO. It just says the 174 figure is 47% higher than the year before. No doubt some of those deaths would have been prevented if the riders had worn helmets though.

I remember statistics shared during my motorcycle safety courses that highlighted the biggest factors associated with motorcycle fatalities: Speed and alcohol. Ride safely and don’t drink before riding and your odds of staying alive improve dramatically. Not surprisingly, younger riders are disproportionately represented in fatality statistics.

Wear a helmet, follow the laws, be sure your bike is in safe working order, always be alert and cautious, and don’t ride under the influence of alcohol or medication that might impair your abilities.

 

[Bn2f]

it's not rocket science.
but despite the evidence, there's no move to reinstate the helmet laws. go figure.





https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/mot...p&cvid=265e326bb92e4bb4b801e2a9e7290424&ei=13

Viewing these comments I am now convinced that the OP created this thread intentionally and is sitting back sipping tea and eating crumpets just laughing at the oblivious hypocrisy on display as these RW members opine on seatbelts and helmets as a bodily autonomy issue. A tip of the hat to you Señora butters.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Pffffffft!!!

Indian Motorcycles. A Harley owner's dream.