Letter to the Editor

Make sure to wear a helmet

Sunday, July 13, 2008

To the Editor:

In the last couple of days, there has been a lot of talk about reinstituting the helmet law for motorcycles.

There is a great deal of controversy about this. Quite frankly, I cannot imagine getting onto a motorcycle without a helmet, but I am not a biker.

Comments are that it is a bikers right not to have to wear a helmet unless they want to. We hear this comment made about seatbelts as well. Statistics show that injuries are lessened when a seatbelt is worn and also when people wear a helmet on a motorcycle.

Lately, more and more people are going with scooters and motorcycles as their mode of transportation because of the fuel prices. There are more of them out there and there have been more accidents with dramatic injuries. There is the rare instance when a person will still be killed with or without a helmet or seatbelt, but statistically, they are lessened.

So, to those of you who feel that your rights are being violated by having to wear a helmet or a seatbelt, here is what I would propose. Don't wear them. This is your choice.

But, here is the kicker. Your auto or motorcycle insurance would become null and void if you are involved in an accident and injured. Insurance companies can write this exclusion in the policy. You would be unable to collect from your company under the medical payments portion of your policy and you would be negated from recovering from any other party involved in the accident if you were not at fault. In other words, why should we have to pay for your injuries since you made the choice not to wear a helmet or seatbelt?

Insurance premiums are quite high enough because of frivolous claims. You would be able to assert your freedom of choice and pay out of your own pocket for your own injuries.

As an ex-claims adjuster, I feel that there are some rules and regulations that are for our benefit and wearing seatbelts, having airbags and wearing a helmet when on a scooter or motorcycle are definitely for the protection of all.

Jaqui Griffith,

Brazil