Different rates for health insurance only works if you're dead or alive. If you lie on the policy and are involved in a crash where it is determined that head injuries were the cause of death, and you die on the scene, it's a mute point. On the other hand, you lie on the policy, are involved in a crash, are taken to the hospital with head trauma...guess what? The insurance may not pay, but the hospital is not going to leave you out on the curb...they are going to do what it takes to keep you alive, regardless of costs. And those costs get passed on to the consumer, like all other business losses that can't be written off dollar for dollar on tax returns. The losses to the hospital from motorcycle accident victims are small in comparison to losses incurred from people generally not having adequate health care insuance, but it adds to the losses, nonetheless.
In fact, the relatively small number of people who ride motorcycles, compared to those who drive cars, is likely the very reason mandatory helmet law is not Federal, and State, across the board. Statisically, it's relatively insignificant whether a person chooses to wear/not wear a helmet. On the other hand, seatbelts also save lives, and enough of them that it is now a law to always wear them. People bitched and moaned about that too, and some still do. But they'll give you a ticket for not wearing it. It's more about numbers than percentages.
People need to realize that riding/driving on public roads is a priviledge, not a right.
One thing is certain...this issue is not going to be resolved here. One of these days, helmets will be mandatory, like it or not, and then the choice will be ride/don't ride. I'm pretty sure that most who enjoy riding will continue to ride...with a helmet on. The same way people didn't quit driving cars when seatbelts became mandatory.
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Topic: How many wear helmets and proper attire in non helmet states (Read 42068 times)