Helmet or helmet-less? Motorcycle riders, groups and medical
professionals are still weighing in on the Sunshine State's policies.
Wochit
That experience in all kinds of traffic and weather – plus a scary hit-and-run wreck – buys him the knowledge to make his own decisions on wearing a helmet, he says.
That, and the state of Florida...
Taylor says in some cases he rides with a helmet but
sometimes goes helmet-less, depending on the situation. But he
emphasizes that his choice is personal and doesn’t think it’s for
everyone to make.
“If I’m comfortable on the roads and
the people I’m with, I choose not to wear a helmet, but saying that, I
feel inexperienced riders should wear a helmet until they get that
riding skill to a point where they’re comfortable to make the decision,”
said Taylor, who was hit by a drunken driver in 2011 and was injured
without so much as a scratched helmet.
Since 2000, it’s been legal in Florida to ride without a helmet, provided the rider:
- Is at least 21
- Holds medical insurance coverage of at least $10,000
Tips for those looking to buy motorcycle helmets. By Chris Bonanno.
All this two-wheeled freedom doesn’t necessarily add up to higher fatalities, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
But it does up the risk of serious injury, medical experts say.
“I
think a lot of people think that a lot of fatalities are going to be
without the helmets, but there are a lot of crashes that are
unsurvivable because of the nature of the crash,” said Florida Highway
Patrol Public Affairs Officer Kim Montes. “There is no trend one way or
another.”
Statewide in 2014, according to FHP, 450
motorcycle drivers or passengers died in wrecks, with 210 of those
confirmed to have not been wearing a helmet. In 2013 there were 462
combined fatalities with 216 confirmed to have not been wearing a
helmet. Montes noted that those numbers are higher than in many states
due to the fact that motorcyclists “can ride year-round” due to the
warmer weather.
In
Brevard, nine of 14 motorcyclists killed in 2013 wore a helmet. In
2014, it was three of five. In 2015, it was three of 12. Across the
central Florida counties of Brevard, Seminole, Volusia, Lake, Orange and
Osceola, the ratios were about the same:
- 2013: 57 deaths, 32 with a helmet
- 2014: 50 deaths, 23 with a helmet
- 2015: 62 deaths, 31 with a helmet
According
to Rob Spivey, trauma program manager at Health First’s Holmes Regional
Medical Center in Melbourne, more than 70 studies since the year 2000
“support that the use of motorcycle helmets in decreasing the incidence
of lethal head injuries, death and non-lethal head injuries related to
the use” of helmets for motorcyclists.
“Helmets are
designed to both absorb impact and extend the time of impact. During a
crash, the body and the head are traveling at forward speeds. This
created energy is proportionate to speed. The higher the speed equates
to more force that is generated,” Spivey said in an email to FLORIDA
TODAY.
At
a meeting of the Brevard County Chapter of the ABATE of Florida
motorcycle rights group in Cocoa recently, some discussed exactly why
they don’t wear helmets.
“My right, mainly,” said Rik
Venerable, president of the chapter. “After 41 years of riding without a
helmet, it’s hard to transition to wearing a helmet. It’s something
that you have to get used to. I don’t condemn those that do."
“It’s a part of freedom. Feeling free and unencumbered,” added Phil Nicosi of Indian Harbour Beach, a member of the group.
According to Montes, the Florida Highway Patrol supports the right for motorcyclists to wear helmets.
“We believe it’s a personal choice, and that’s why the legislators enacted that law,” she said.
Even Spivey acknowledges that in some crashes helmets won’t work, though he maintains that helmets do provide more safety.
“As
with any safety device, the design is limited by ergonomics and
functionality,” said Spivey. “There are events in which the energy
generated by the crash is so great that no safety device can completely
mitigate injury. However, helmets have been proven to reduce injury
significantly in both clinical medicine and research studies.
Riders wearing helmets
Some riders say they take no chances.
“I
wear a helmet 100 percent of the time I ride. There are too many
factors that are not under control of the motorcycle rider,” said Rick
Teresi of Palm Bay. “Other drivers’ lack of attention to their
surroundings create deadly situations for those of us on two wheels.”
“I
always wear a helmet. You could trip walking on a sidewalk hit your
head and possibly die or be seriously injured,” added Searphiel Goss.
“Now add speed with a crash and possibly being hit by a car and your
chances of death or horrible injury are high. It’s not worth the risk.”
And one woman even told FLORIDA TODAY that her husband was saved by wearing his helmet while driving.
“My
husband was in a motorcycle accident a few years ago, that involved
sliding for about 100 feet, essentially on his face. His full helmet
(with face shield) did its job admirably,” said Tracy Howard of
Melbourne. “That, along with other protective gear, saved him from what
could have potentially been much worse.
Though
Montes and FHP support the right of motorcyclists to not wear a helmet,
she notes that they “encourage people to wear all safety equipment.”
The
debate as to whether or not motorcyclists should be permitted to ride
without helmets continues nationwide. Currently, 19 states have laws
requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets, according to the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety. Three states (Iowa, Illinois and New
Hampshire) have no laws mandating that any riders wear helmets.
Spivey feels there really shouldn’t be much of a debate.
“Several
national studies have shown an increase in traumatic brain injuries and
fatalities in areas where helmet laws have been repealed,” Spivey
added. “There are standards that have been developed based on these
outcomes (of motorcycle crashes) and research to help match helmets for
their intended use.”
Contact Bonanno at 321-242-3662, cbonanno@floridatoday.com or follow Chris on Twitter @FTChrisBonanno.
Employees with Champions Honda Kawasaki offered tips for motorcyclists looking to buy helmets.
- First, they recommended buying SHOEI helmets, as that’s the brand that produces the highest-quality helmets that offer the most proection. "There's a lot of people that aren't going to want to pay for SHOEIs, but they're the best of the best," said Fehnel. A SHOEI helmet costs at least $400.
- Beyond that, they say to make sure all helmets are DOT certified, mandatory for all helmets and that they’re also Snell certified, a certification which isn’t mandatory but is strongly recommended. "Snell does an impact test, a flame-resistant test, a puncture test, a couple different things," said Julia Fehnel, parts manager at the store.
- Getting a helmet that has good visibility with protection from the sun is also important.
- They also stress the importance of trying on a helmet before purchasing it to make sure it fits right, kind of in the way a person tries on pants even if they know what size they are. "We sized me up to the right size just 'cause we matched by helmet size up with my hat size," says Alex Drabek, parts specialist of his process of buying a helmet at the store.
- Purchasing a metal quick clip over plastic if possible is also considered optimal.
- Finally, they noted that motorcyclists shouldn’t wear a helmet too long. "Five years is the max," said Drabek.
