Helmet Law

[Spyder John]

What do you guys make of this:

40-6-352 Protective headgear.

(a) No person shall operate or ride as a passenger upon a moped unless he or she is wearing protective headgear which complies with standards established by the commissioner. The commissioner in determining such standards shall consider the size, speed, and operational characteristics of the moped. Such standards need not necessarily be the same as for motorcyclists; however, any moped operator wearing an approved motorcycle helmet shall be deemed in compliance with this subsection. :confused:

So if I ride around with a bicycle helmet it might be OK?
I wear a motorcycle helmet anyway, but it might be nice for those quick trips on hot days....

[Spyder John]

Georgia Law (http://gnsun1.ganet.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/pub/ocode/ocgsearch?docname=OCode/G/40/6/352)

[Iceman]

NC requires a motorcycle helmet also. My personal belief is that everyone should have the right to choose but I would wear one anyway. I lost my best friend when I was growing up because he wasn't wearing one and his death was instrumental in getting the helmet law passed in NC. His father was a Triumph dealer and helped push it through after his son's death. I guess it is like they say, it's a law we can live with. :spiny:

[cycleNdave]

i normally don't wear one on the scoot, unless it's cold...but i always wear one on my bike...either way...i think a helmet is very important...i was hit one time while i was wearing a helmet, and i was glad i had it on....i went helicoptering over the trunk and landed on my back, with my head bouncing off the asphalt....but, sometimes i just feel fearless...

[qwiksilver]

When I was an MP on base I picked up only one accident with a helmet that was dead...he was decapitated. The accidents without a helmet...we didn't even check for a pulse.

While I'm all for the freedom of choice I also recognize what a burden brain injuries are on the medical and social system.

Be happy they haven't banned two-wheelers as unsafe at any speed. Think about it: if motorcycles/scooters had been invented today, do you think the DOT would have approved them?

[Spyder John]

The commissioner...shall consider the size, speed, and operational characteristics of the moped. Such standards need not necessarily be the same as for motorcyclists...

I always wear a helmet myself -- I have the hemlet pieces (along with the scars where they bolted a halo brace to my skull) to prove that they save lives. Guess I was just wondering how much protection a bicycle helmet affords at, say, < 30 mph. They are way more comfortable.

BTW, the next section explicitly states that electric mopeds (ick) can wear bicycle helmets.

[sooznd]

Colorado has no helmet law. I always wear my 3/4 helmet with face shield when riding my scooter.
A full face seems too claustrophobic since I wear glasses. The 3/4 HJC I have seems like a good compromise. I think if I had a fullface, I would be too tempted to leave it behind. The helmet I have is more comfy then my bicyle helmet.

I am consistently amazed at all the motorcycle riders on the interstates here traveling at 80 + mph w/o helmets

[Scooter Gyrl]

[QUOTE=sooznd]Colorado has no helmet law. I always wear my 3/4 helmet with face shield when riding my scooter.
A full face seems too claustrophobic since I wear glasses. The 3/4 HJC I have seems like a good compromise. I think if I had a fullface, I would be too tempted to leave it behind. The helmet I have is more comfy then my bicyle helmet.

I started out with a half helmet since it was so hot in
Austin, TX. I recently bought a 3/4 HJC helmet with a flip-up face shield. I wanted to protect my face from the sun and got tired of having to wear sunscreen. It's very comfortable and I really like the flip-up feature. The full face is not only claustrophobic, but way too heavy. It felt like having a bowling ball on top of my head. The only thing I don't like about the flip-up is that w/o a visor, the sun is really glaring, even with sunglasses. I'm going to attach some tinting to the top of the face shield, I think. My only concern is riding at night. I'll have to see.

The other thing about the 3/4 helmet is that it mashes my hair down more than the 1/2 helmet. My bike helmet is more comfortable than the scoot helmet, but I wouldn't feel as protected with it.

[gjtomli]

I don't think I would do the bicycle helmet thing. Just doesn't seem to be to safe. In Idaho every minor is required to wear a helmet, but after that... they figure if you are dumb enough to not wear a helmet you deserve what you get I guess. Maybe it's a kind of natural selection.

[sooznd]

[QUOTE=sooznd] The only thing I don't like about the flip-up is that w/o a visor, the sun is really glaring, even with sunglasses. I'm going to attach some tinting to the top of the face shield, I think. My only concern is riding at night. I'll have to see.
The other thing about the 3/4 helmet is that it mashes my hair down more than the 1/2 helmet. My bike helmet is more comfortable than the scoot helmet, but I wouldn't feel as protected with it.

scootergyrl--Which model HJC 3/4 do you have? If you have the CL-33 or AC 3, you can buy darker tinted face shields for them. I bought an extra smoke color shield for use in the summer so I don't need to wear my sunglasses with it.

[ex-racer#2]

I make it a habit of never riding even around the yard without a helmet. I have seen way to many people who scrambled their eggs to consider anything else. In addition to scootering I have roadraced motorcycles and competed in observed trials. It is not how fast you are going but how you land that is the factor. Some of the lowest speed falls are what causes the big injuries. I have highsided at 90mph and not even scratched a helmet. Yet crashing the trials bike at less than 5mph and I was lights out.

Choose if you feel you must. But I don't know too many people who actively choose to be stupid. I know how bad you can be hurt at 30mph. Nothing is cooler than having a speech problem for 2 years after a 30mph crash. That is with a helmet. Without one and I would never have had the chance to annoy so many people here.

[cycleNdave]

bicycle helmets are very safe...if you buy a high quality one like $100 to $160...but why fork out that much money when you can get a safe D.O.T. motorcycle helmet for half that price...and all a helmet is good for is keeping your brains from spilling out on the street....

[larry-new]

scootergyrl--Which model HJC 3/4 do you have? If you have the CL-33 or AC 3, you can buy darker tinted face shields for them. I bought an extra smoke color shield for use in the summer so I don't need to wear my sunglasses with it.

I don't need a law to legislate common sense...

Two solutions for the HJC CL-33:

Get some of the Automobile stick-on sunshield, cut a 1" wide piece and stick it to the outside of the faceshield.

There is an add-on visor called the SuperVisor which works very well for low sun in the AM and PM...I use it all the time for commuting and long rides. PM me for the info.

Check out the Honda DN-01, an Automatic Motorcycle about to go into production....webbikeworld.

Larry [ shiftless forever ]

[Scooter Gyrl]

scootergyrl--Which model HJC 3/4 do you have? If you have the CL-33 or AC 3, you can buy darker tinted face shields for them. I bought an extra smoke color shield for use in the summer so I don't need to wear my sunglasses with it.
I have the CL33. Thanks for the suggestion. I can buy a darker face shield at my dealer for $24 dollars, but it seemed more versatle to have the clear lens and just use sunglasses. I did not realize at the time that glare would be a problem (you live and you learn :-). I didn't want to carry along the clear lens (takes up to much space) in case I ended up out at dusk or night so I passed on the darker lens. Now I'm thinking I might buy the darker lens, and just raise the shield if I'm out at night and wear my clear goggles with it.

One thing I don't like about the CL33 is that it doesn't fit well when I tried using the helmet holder. My half helmet strap is long enough and fits just fine. I thought of using an extender I saw in a catalog, but it is metal, and I'm aftraid of scratching the scoot. I always have too much stuff in my underseat compartment to put in a 3/4 helmet What do you do with your helmet when going into a store? Again, thanks for your input.

[cycleNdave]

try putting the D ring of your helmet strap around the lock for the seat and then close the seat...then rest the helmet on your rack\or seat...if any one wants to steal it they would have to cut the strap...then what good would it be?...when you re-open your seat you will have to push down on it while turning the key...works for me?