VERY truthfully and articulately stated, Bill! I didn't know anyone from Austin cared anything about freedom, other than the right to choose an abortion or a sex change or something.
I could care less if you wear a seatbelt or a helmet. Just as long as my tax money
doesn't go to keep you alive when you're a vegetable.
Has any UNBIASED organization done any UNBIASED studies of what causes more vegetables, riding with or without a helmet? I would think more would be killed outright without a helmet and that the number of broken necks and otherwised damaged, but not lethally so neurosystems would be created by wearing a helmet, though I'm sure the probablility I'd survive a crash with my helmet on is many times higher. If that's the case, if helmets caused more vegetables, you should support the repeal of the insurance provision! Logically, I'd suspect that hemlets cause more vegetables than not wearing one. Not wearing one pretty much signs your death warrant.
Of course, most of the time, I have a helmet on. There are times I run down the street to the store and don't mess with it, but rarely. I just have been wearing one on a bike so long, I feel naked without it. I DO NOT wish to be FORCED to wear it, though. I never wear a damned seatbelt, either. It's not TOO bad in my wife's car, but both my van and my truck seatbelts cut my neck to the point of bleeding if I wear them long enough. It's just the way they ride across me. So, I loop my arm through and leave it loose and if I see a cop, I take both hands off the wheel to attach the damned thing. That's save, ain't it?
No laws against that broad I saw in north SA driving up I35 in rush hour traffic reading the paper in her suburban while driving! That's a bigger hazard, I'd think. I've seen helmet laws come and go, depending on the totalitarianism of the administration in power in Austin, in the 38 years I've been riding. I'm sure the next liberal, if there ever is one and I hope there isn't, that gets in power in Austin will bring it back.
Now, then, I submit one of two things. First of all, outlaw riding motorcycles on the street! That cures the problem. You outlaw riding those dangerous contraptions on the street you eliminate ALL motorcycle traffic accidents!
Two, if you allow street bikes, mandate helmet use, then mandate helmet use in ALL vehicles, not just motorcycles. It would save lives if each and every occupant of a car, truck, school bus, metro bus, whatever, had to wear a helmet. Might consider mandating nomex outer wear in vehicles, too. I'm getting tired of paying for all the indigents that get in wrecks and get severe burn injuries and have no medical insurance! Helmets in cars CAN and WILL save head injuries, even lives, even though it didn't do Dale Earnhart any good. You don't see a NASCAR driver or a F1 driver get in a car without helmet and nomex driving suit, why should we be any different!?