Why Some Motorcycle Riders Refuse Helmets: Risks and Consequences

Everyones got their own reasons I get it. Maybe they think helmets are a giant pain – too hot, too heavy, messing up their perfectly styled hair. hey it happens! Or maybe they're just popping down the street to grab a coffee and a helmet feels like overkill. Listen to each one's own, but here's the thing: roads are unpredictable. You could be having a mellow ride one minute and BAM something crazy happens. A car cuts you off, a rogue squirrel darts out – next thing you know you're wishing you had that helmet. It might not win any fashion awards but a helmet is your best friend on the road.

Understanding the Importance of Helmets

The argument against helmets is often rooted in the perception of personal freedom and comfort. However, the risks of not wearing one are clear. There are no exceptions to this rule. I have seen people lose balance and slip while taking a U-turn in their residential building compound, fall and hit their head on the pavement, and slip into a coma. There is no valid reason anyone should not wear a helmet. If you have a wound on your head that prevents you from wearing one, then you should not ride a bike! Recover well and the world is yours. There are no legally valid reasons which allow you to not wear a helmet. Please don't do it. Wear one. Get a high-quality helmet. Don’t skimp on a quality helmet. And use it.

Consequences of Not Wearing Helmets

Wearing a helmet doesn't mean you have to accept the inconvenience. The human skull is a very fragile thing, and it doesn't take much impact to cause permanent damage. If someone wants the "freedom" of not wearing a helmet, we shouldn't have to pay to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Some folks just have nothing to protect, so not wearing a helmet doesn't make sense.

Why Many Riders Wear Helmets but Not Other Protective Gear

Have you ever noticed that some riders wear a helmet but no other protective gear? This is often because they think that crashes just don't happen to them. In fact, some may wear a helmet but no leathers, gloves, etc. They think that if they crash, they somehow won't crack their noggin open on anything. Others may wear a helmet but no leathers, thinking that the risk of road rash is negligible. But in the case of a fall, it's practically guaranteed. T-shirts shred like paper on blacktop, and your typical blue jeans aren't as tough as you think. And then there are those who wear no protective gear at all – shorts and flip-flops, maybe a tank top. They haven't really thought things through.

The odds are that the more you ride, the more likely you are to be involved in a crash. And all too often, crashes are caused by things beyond our control. A cager might pull out right in front of you, a kamikaze deer may run right into your path, or unseen sand or gravel may wipe you out in a corner. In my case, it was a road that was slippery when wet but wasn't marked as such, and that got me. I hit a spot where there was some mud on the road, making it even more slippery, and it was just like hitting ice. The bike went right out from under me at 60 mph. I'm glad those gouges weren't in the back of my head! My Dickies work jeans didn't look terrible considering I slid a couple hundred feet on my back down a wet highway across the oncoming lane through a gravel shoulder and landed in the ditch. I'm sure they would've been worse if the road was dry. And I'm extremely thankful there wasn't any traffic coming! The back of my leather jacket? Cowhide is a helluva lot tougher than human skin!

You never leave home with the expectation that today's going to be the day that you're going to crash. But it happens, and you never know when it's going to be. So all the gear, all the time. Anything less is gambling. Stay safe out there!