Helmetless motorcycle riders = organ donors?
June 13, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Motorcycles = freedom on the road.
Motorcycles = fun.
Motorcycles = speed.
Motorcycles = danger.
But what do riders who don’t wear helmet equal to? I’ll tell you. Either they become organ donors (if we were lucky enough that they signed their donor cards) or they live life with severe injuries that will either incapacitate them or see them living with chronic pain.
Do you think I’m kidding? I’m not. The state of Pennsylvania repealed its motorcycle helmet law in 2003. Now, you only have to wear a helmet if you ride a motorcycle and you’re under 21 or have not taken a safety course - you have to wear one for 2 years.
The results? According to a press release issued by The University of Pittsburgh Schools of Health Sciences: “Study authors analyzed data from Pennsylvania’s departments of Health and Transportation during the years 2001-2002 and 2004-2005. They found helmet use by motorcyclists involved in reported crashes decreased from 82 percent to 58 percent in the two years after repeal. The authors also looked at data from head injury and non-head injury deaths to determine specifically how many deaths were caused by not wearing helmets. They found the registration-adjusted head injury death rate increased by 32 percent, whereas the non-head injury death rate did not change.”
There was also a, “42 percent increase in head injury-related hospitalizations, raising concerns about motorcyclists’ safety and the impact of this trend on health care costs.”
If you sense I feel very personal about this – I do. I have no problem with motorcycles. I think they’re great. I also think that car drivers often make it very dangerous for motorcyclists, causing them to really risk their lives to be able to ride, sometimes.
When I worked in an ICU, I had a patient who was knocked off his motorcycle. I saw his helmet. He wouldn’t have been himself any more if had not been wearing his helmet. He might not have been dead, but chances are, he wouldn’t be as he used to be before the accident either.
You want to feel the wind in your hair while you ride? Is that really more important than staying alive if you have an accident?
Image: Newscom
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Motorcycles are suicide machines. That’s precisely why they appeal to the thrill-seeking set.
Comment deleted
- please feel free to disagree but I won’t allow abusive or vulgar language to be posted in the comment section.
My friend who’s a nurse calls them “donorcycles” or “murdercycles” because of the high likelihood of dying in a crash.
Most of the people I see on these machines are behaving like idiots; they do not obey the rules of the road including speed limits and riding too close to the vehicle in front of them to passing between lanes of automobile traffic where there is no lane for them to be in. They are on a mission to get killed or maimed it seems. I think it is tragic to have so little regard for oneself and others.
I agree that motorcycles are dangerous machines. If treated with respect, the chances of a tragic accident is reduced dramatically. I know that I would not want one of my sons during his teen and early adult years. I know my children…they feel that nothing could ever happen to them.
I’ll tell you this: if you ride a motorcycle with or without a helmet you’re asking for trouble. I work in an operating room in a large university hospital. Last week, a 25 yr. old came in with BOTH legs RIPPED off at the knees from a motorcycle accident. He was wearing a helmet. Helmet, no helmet, what the hell is the difference. If you ride a death cycle, you should be required to provide a means of paying for your injuries. Even if you have medical insurance, my rates go up because of your risky and idiotic behavior.
Motorcycles can be dangerous because people in cars don’t see you. Don’t stereotype all riders as crazy, there are lots of idiots driving cars while putting on make up, eating fast food, talking on their cell phone or texting. When i ride all i am doing is driving and watching out for those people. And please all you people who drive cars are obeying every law…right!
I do not see any statistics relating to the rise in number of riders in correlation to accidents.
Meaning, more riders will equal more accidents.
BTW..l ride a motorcycle… and I am far from part of a thrill seeking set.
Motor Cycles are the most fun thing I have ever done! Quite Ironically I gave it up due to injuries. Then again this is why I have formulated this equation. Fun is inversely proportional to safety. I.E. The more fun, the less safe.
I wold like to get another one,but The ER isn’t something I like a lot.
Also I think that motorcycles shouldn’t be bound by traffic laws. I mean they put no one in danger but themselves (this applies to highway travel only).
I agree with Erik. I hit a motorcyclist once – thank goodness his only injury was a broken leg. But I didn’t see him – not at all. I was stopped at a stop sign, I looked left and right and went. All of a sudden he was in front of me and I can – 7 years later – still see his face of shock.
The only thing I can think of is when I checked left, the telephone pole was blocking my view of him for the split second I was looking. Since bikes aren’t wide, they can hide for an instant like that.
No matter how careful a driver you are, your mindset isn’t to look for narrower objects. You’re supposed to keep your eyes on the road ahead of you and your mirror checks are split seconds. If your brain isn’t set to register motorcycles, it’s easier to miss them.
I have friends who ride and I know two men who were so severely injured riding that they are disabled. Both times, the injury wasn’t their fault.
With motorcycles, you can be as careful as can be, but if you get hit by a car, you are going to take the brunt of it.
Most crashes on a bike are avoidable, the biker has more of a responsibility to keep his/her head on a swivel and avoid thier own, as well as the mistakes of others. That being said…only a complete tool would go without a helmet.
Why…………. why is there people that drive cars that have DUI.. more than 2 accidents… and speeding tickets… and get no s…. from no one and people who ride their bikes are always the target of idiots that have a close mind and dont open their eyes to see their is more to life than just what they do and what they are??
From Marijke: Because the topic of this post is about motorcycles: therefore, I talk about motorcycles. When I talk about drunk driving, I’ll address drunk driving and not motorcycles.
motorcycles are just a diferent mean of transportation and car driver are the one that make them dangerous not bikers…. so get your facts right and stop opening your mouth
From Marijke – name was deleted, we don’t play childish games on this blog. If you have something to say, say it without belittling or namecalling. As for the facts, they are straight.
I don’t know if you noticed but, your picture shows the riders helmit on the tarp
Hi Scott, I’m not sure what your point is. The image is a stock photo. I made no claim otherwise. The image is only to break up text so that the blog isn’t all words and nothing else.
I’m not sure what your point is
You have a Graphic Picture of a Helmeted rider, who was killed. If your going to make inflamitory statements, “Helmetless motorcycle riders = organ donors?” you should use a picture that backs up your point. Its a little Insensitive to the families of the deceased rider.
Pictures of a friend of mine, have made there rounds around the internet and the STORIES that go with it, range from imbelishments to down right lies.
Scott, I’m sorry about your friend, but in my opinion, you are making a mountain out of a molehill regarding my post and the photo. The post is about how rates of death increase with lack of helmet use. Whether you choose to ride without a helmet is your choice. But I will continue to post information about studies, including findings such as more women than men get fibromyalgia, if you don’t take care of your blood sugar levels in diabetes, you have a higher chance of having diabetic neuropathy. In this case, if you don’t wear a helmet, you have a higher rate of dying of a head injury.
Re the feelings of the family – it was a stock photo that is used with permission. If it offends you, there isn’t much I can do about that – the intent wasn’t there.
70 percent of motorcycle accidents are not the riders fault. 70 of those accidents that aren’t the riders fault are left hand turns infront of them. Most
Car/truck drivers are not paying enough attention to the road.
No-one is denying that cars cause accidents. However, helmets help limit head injuries. End of story.
I am not denying that helmets help limit head injuries.
I just fail to see how showing a dead helmeted rider. helps people looking at a “helpmyhurt” website.
This very true the real no. 1 reason for motorcycle accidents in my opinion is reckless motorcycle riders and car drivers. I have been riding for many years and everytime i come close to an accident its not my fault, either someone is on the phone, texting or puttin on make up. Even when i’m in my car that is all i see car drivers never paying attention to the road always on the phone. Their are all means of transportation in different types of molds trains, cars, vans, trucks and motorcycles. IF EVERYONE WOULD OBEY THE LAW AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD AS WELL AS PRACTICE SAFETY AND CAUTIOUSNESS THEN THEIR WOULD BE VERY LITTLE TO NO ACCIDENTS AT ALL. SAFETY AND ALERTNESS. WHERE YOUR HELMETS AND PEOPLE STOP DRIVING AND TALKING ON THE CELL PHONES. THANK YOU
I am a former paramedic and police officer and motorcyclist in another country. The statistics are the same. In 70% of m/cycle accidents the driver is more to blame than the m/cyclists. I say more to blame as this is a two way street. Most times it involves both parties who weren’t alert and take each other for granted. When I ride I treat every driver as an idiot waiting to kill me. With this in mind I avoid accidents. As our country does not allow helmetless m/cyclists or bicyclists we have a low incidence of helmetless injuries. As a police officer investigating an accident scene looking at a destroyed helmet and then seeing the owner still walking around, it goes a long way helmets are lifesavers.
So I suppose the helmet at the foot of this poor guy was just window dressing?
Honestly, I have 40 years of performance bike riding and I have never seen a bike kill anyone.. The issue is “rider maturity”.. Some young kid with way to many hormones does not belong on a bike if they can not control their own riding..
It is a shame so many are killed but frankly, most of these fatalities can be directly attributed to very poor decision making..
Thank you for bringing up helmets but also I would stress that FULL GEAR should be worn when ever possible.. Cheers brother!
When are people going to get it, we have rights, that’s right. If some dose not want to wear a helmet that is up to them, I wear one. Take a look at how many people ski or take showers lets make them wear a helmat too so they won,t hurt their heads. People need to grow up and get a life.
Well as soon as I do not have to shell out tax dollars to keep the lowest common denominator alive after he racks his head against the asphalt then, sure run around unprotected all you want.. Or how about your kid? old enough to decide to spend their life damaged?
You might want to check the photo, there’s a helmet by the body.
Yes. I know.
Assuming for the moment that crashing without a helmet will get the rider killed (which actually depends on the type of crash, among other things), we need more organ donors anyway. As long as we’re talking about competent adults who choose that risk, what’s the problem?
In the MAJORITY of accident cases, the problem is NOT the motorcyclist. Rather, it’s the inattentive CAGER trying to do 100 different things while driving rather than concentrating on the MOST important task…driving itself. I’ve ridden bikes since the 70’s and can tell you from first-hand experience that a biker’s BIGGEST problem are the IDIOTS behind the wheels of their cages. Slap some sense into these idiots and send them back to their respective villages.
Fair enough Thom, but since you know the possibility is there, is it not better to prevent having your head smashed beyond recognition and sustainable life by wearing a helmet?
I’ve been riding for a few years now and got a few several thousand miles under my belt and here’s how it goes for me…with a bulky, peripheral vision blocking lump of dead weight pressing down on my back and spine, accompanied with a FALSE (see photo at top) sense of security i am far LESS likely to swing my head around to see whats going on around me and take note of where every death cage around me is. no helmet=me being able to know whats happening around me and separate myself from everyone else on the road. i have a helmet and i carry it with me, sometimes i’ll get a hunch and where it awhile, but i always take it off because it makes me LESS SAFE!!! all of you people who don’t ride can take your statistics and speculative opinions and shove em! that being said there’s a song by g.g.allin-die when you die, that pretty much sums up my philosophy on life…you do the math….as far as the freedom of choice arguement…this country ain’t got the first clue what freedom is. try again.
Thats ok Mack… I race… we dont need helmets either and for everyone of you guys that does not wear a lid? a grand possibility of someone that has a better brain might live due to your other good organs… Even your beloved ABATE concedes that helmets are a great idea.. they just dont like the idea of being told to wear one.. Guys like you are just to dumb to realize what the debate is about..
sigh….randy, you obviously didn’t understand what i was saying. yes, if i get in a crash and my head hits something then having protection there will limit the damage done by the impact, if you had read my comment, however, you would have seen that i was saying without a helmet i am LESS likely to get into a crash as i am better able to see what is going on around me and i’m not preoccupied feeling like a douchebag with a bubble on my head.
And so you are saying, you are less likely to be involved in an accident if you do not have a lid on.. I am sure that has been disproved by the states that have removed helmet laws.. Their motorcycle accident rates do not drop and injuries severity over the same number of accidents has gone up.. A helmet has not effect on your ability to see what is right in front of you or beside you (peripheral vision is not impaired by a good helmet).. What you “feel” has no bearing on the facts and figures of the real world
That said, 99.9% of all bike accidents are 100% avoidable by the bike rider.. Speed is the number one issue given to bike crashes.. Even if it is not the bikes fault, most crashes are still avoidable by the bike rider..
Rear end crashes and sideswipes (assuming these must be the crashes you are avoiding) are in fact not very common.. Single vehicle accidents are very common on bikes.. USDOT has all the facts and figures online..
alright dude…are you an insurance salesman? first of all, don’t give me ANY statistics on anything, they are all but meaningless and don’t reflect on anything real. second of all, i’m attempting to avoid ALL crashes, not just rear ends or side swipes. third of all, motorcycle riding on public highways with mindless incompetent fools is a game of survival. ask anyone whose ever been in a survival situation and they will tell you what they “feel” has a whole hell of a lot of bearing on their decision making processes and in staying alive. fourth of all, your made up statistic about being 100% avoidable by the bike rider is such ignorant bull i’m not gonna say anything else about it. fifth, putting something that covers up the side of my face is, plain and simple, going to affect my peripheral vision. end of arguement. sixth of all, i never smoke speed before going bike riding so thats not even an issue at all. to sum things up, you can take your usdot statistics, insurance statistics, your made up statistics, your thousands of govt. mandated laws that people like you need to help you along in life and store them deep inside your small intestine, i’m gonna keep living wild and free, keep riding how i ride, keep separating myself from your kind and live my life until i’m dead. live from your couch and hear the sound of my flock roll by…..see ya on the other side!
I encourage you not to wear a helmet if that is your wish… do sign an organ donor card however… I would ask that you should encourage your kids to ride without safety gear too.. I have 40 years of bike riding without crashing a street bike.. (I ride a Hayabusa currently that sees a few track days a year even)… Come on up to Deals Gap for Busa Bash.. seen a few hundred people on the worlds fastest production bike and see how many ride without gear.. .. must all be pretty silly huh?
have a look at this
http://www.motorcycle-accidents.com/pages/stats.html
I would like to read where you got this information from?
“That said, 99.9% of all bike accidents are 100% avoidable by the bike rider.. Speed is the number one issue given to bike crashes.”
I got this from a study conducted by the University of Southern California “The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph, and the one-in-a-thousand crash speed is approximately 86 mph”
hmm speed not a major cause
“The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.”
I wear a helmet 100% of the times that I ride. I have taken 2 motorcycle safety courses, and those rider training programs BOTH confirmed that 70% of motorcycle crashes are NOT the riders fault.
Again I would like to point out that this posting is inflammatory (Helmet in photo) and HOW flame war help people on a website called helpmyhurt.com
Yup that seems to be the stat even in South Africa, 70%. The other 30% seems to be speed and arrogance. And, with motorcycles you have an even better chance avoiding accidents that cars wouldn’t be able to avoid. Despite the stats I still think if you are totally aware all the time, you’re safer on a bike.
My brother was a stickler for helmets. The impact took his right off. Did nothing for him. He’s gone. Ask me how perplexed I feel about helmets.