Although they have sometimes been shunned and ignored, these days nearly everyone agrees on the importance of wearing a motorcycle helmet. Motorcycle helmets have been around for a long time. The first motorcycle helmets appear to have been developed in the 1950s. It was at this period that motorcycle racing and faster riding became more common (motorcycles were first developed in the 1880's), and the fatalities from motorcycle accidents were starting to rise.
The first to really embrace the wearing of motorcycle helmets were the police in California. Laws mandating the wearing of helmets were not introduced until 1966, and by the 1970's, most states had some kind of legislation making wearing them mandatory. However, since this has been decided on a state by state basis in the US, many states have changed their laws back and forth over the years and in some states, laws on the books are rarely enforced.
Study after study has proven the need for motorcycle helmets. If you ride a motorcycle you should know that head injuries are the main cause of death in accidents involving motorcycle riders and motorcycle passengers. Studies have shown that a person who doesn't wear a helmet is 40% more likely to be killed if they are in a collision than those who do. Furthermore, helmet riders have a 70% success rate in avoiding serious brain damage during an accident.
Still, some motorcycle riders have excuses for not wearing a helmet while riding. One of the most common ones is that they feel restrictive and they can't enjoy the freedom of having air on their face when riding a motorcycle if they have a helmet on. Others chafe against any kind of regulation on their riding at all.
Unfortunately, many of the motorcycle riders who are injured in accidents as a result of not wearing a helmet are not properly insured, and the responsibility to pay for their care and treatment often becomes the burden of taxpayers or hospitals. Although they may think that it is an individual choice to not wear a helmet, the consequences have a much larger social impact and financial burden on society.
Fortunately, today there are many different kinds of helmets you can choose from if you are a motorcycle rider. Given this variation in styles, it is likely that you can find a helmet that suits your personality while safeguarding yourself and possibly saving your life in the event of an accident.
To see some excellent examples of motorcycle helmets for sale as well as some other great motorcycle accessories, including some quality motorcycle jackets.
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