Are helmet laws needed?

STERLING – Since September, two people have died in motorcycle crashes in the Sauk Valley. For the year, according to preliminary numbers from the Illinois State Police, there have been five deaths.
None of the victims were wearing helmets, and four of the five deaths were caused, at least in part, by head trauma.

The most recent death, that of 21-year-old Brandon Kiro, happened on Oct. 8 in Sterling. Police say that Kiro was riding east on East Lynn Boulevard shortly after 10:30 p.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle, which skidded across the road before coming to a rest in the westbound lanes.
Comments
jerry bryant wrote on November 9, 2013 9:38 a.m. ...
According to Ms Warren's statistics, 4 out of the 5 recent victims were also aged 21 years and under, which leads one to speculate that inexperience may be a contributing factor. Would the author condone more restrictions on younger riders? How about mandatory helmet use by bicyclists, roofers or anyone engaged in behavior involving risk including the operation of automobiles. Obviously, helmets or any other type of body armor, gives additional, personal protection. The freedom of choice lies in weighing these protections against their inconvenience.

Steven Humphrey wrote on November 9, 2013 12:59 p.m. ...
"Obviously, helmets or any other type of body armor, gives additional, personal protection. The freedom of choice lies in weighing these protections against their inconvenience." It's absurd for car drivers to get seat belt tickets if motorcyclists still want to continue the "personal choice" argument for not being mandated to wear helmets. I'd prefer to not have to pay for seatbelt tickets as a personal choice rather then being mandated to wear it, and fined. I suppose the most unsafe modes of transportation should continue to be rewarded with the option of personal choice while the rest of us.
Steven Humphrey wrote on November 9, 2013 1:01 p.m. ...
us have to be told what to do to better insure our transportation safety. Only those nostalgic of a "simpler" time would continue to advocate for personal choice when it comes to wearing a motorcycle helmet. Age is not a factor, hitting your head on the pavement is the factor. It's basic, and common sense. The State would do well to mandate helmets ...if for nothing else to reduce the amount of TBI's that could possibly be prevented. Same idea with frontal airbags, and side airbags in later model vehicles. Either way ... you should not get the benefit of a choice.

Steven Humphrey wrote on November 9, 2013 1:11 p.m. ...
What I don't understand is why private insurance companies have not ever jacked rates through the roof based on wearing a helmet or not (prerequisite questions to assess risk of insuring a client), such as running a DMV report for tickets or accidents, it should be one more box that is ticked and premiums should be higher for those that want to recklessly unprotect themselves.

Steven Humphrey wrote on November 9, 2013 1:17 p.m. ... An interesting question to ask ... How much do insurance premiums annually rise as a result of motorcycle accidents that require medically intensive treatment due to not wearing helmets. Hell, they ask me if I have a car alarm to prevent theft of a 15k vehicle, you know that medical bills after a motorcycle accident are ten fold of that if an accident were to occur with an unprotected (helmet -less) motorcyclist, yet motorcyclists do not pay for that kind of risk and get to share the road with the rest of us. While we all most likely are absorbing the true costs of such riding behavior.

Original article: http://www.saukvalley.com/2013/11/01/are-helmet-laws-needed/ao6upmo/?list-comments=1