The Importance of the Subject
The traffic accidents have become the top reasons of many deaths and injuries. The main reasons of such accidents are not only the neglect or non-observance of road rules but the non-observance of safety regulations. The most susceptible to the traffic accidents and injuries are motorcyclist as far as motorbike is quite a dangerous means of transport. The necessity to protect motorcyclists from probable accidents has necessitated this research. We are going to cast light upon the importance of the use of helmets by motorcyclists and passengers as far as brain injuries are the most serious ones and head injuries have irreparable consequences. The problem is that many motorcyclists as well as their passengers neglect the use of such preserver as helmet and sometimes have to pay for their light-mindedness with their life.
The Factors Conditioned the Necessity of Adopting Helmet use Laws in all Countries
This current issue of the necessity in the strict rules of using helmets and following these rules should be taken into account by the government of every country where this means of transport is quite popular, by official representatives who are responsible for the order on the road and by the motorcyclists, passengers. Motorcycles are more dangerous compared to other means of transport. According to the latest researches of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the number of deaths on motorbikes in 2007 was 37 times per mile traveled (Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws, 2012). There were 4, 281 deaths among motorcyclists and their passengers in 2009 more than in 1997 but less than in 2008 which hit the records in the number of motorbike fatalities which accounted into 5, 112. The highest number of motorcyclists killed in the accidents according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was in 1997 (Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws, 2012).
The Consequences of the Non-observance of Helmet use Laws
Motorcycles have high top speeds and rapid acceleration. They are less steady than other means of transport and less visible on the road especially in the dark. That is why there are so many accidents on motorbikes. Wearing helmet in this case is very important as well as other protective equipment. Helmets protect motorcyclists from head injuries which are so often caused by accidents on motorbikes. Head injuries are the leading cause of death among motorcyclists (Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws, 2012). Many countries have strict rules committing the motorcyclists as well as their passengers to wear helmets. It should be noted, that not every country has such strict rules. Laws obligating all motorcyclists to use helmet are followed in 19 states and the District Columbia. Laws requiring only some categories of motorcyclists to wear helmet are adopted in 28 states (Barth, 2011).
There is not any law requiring to wear helmet at all only in three states namely in Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire. As for the USA, the history of the use of this law started in 1967. Michigan was the first state that began to realize the helmet use law in 1968. The use of this law continues to be followed in the USA (Motorcycle and Bicycle Helmet use Laws, 2012). Nevertheless, many people have forgotten about the rules of precautions and the government softens the penalties of the nonobservance of helmet use laws. This fact makes our research more needed as far as one of the main aims of our research is to attract the government representatives’ attention to create such strict laws of using helmets and other protective equipment which may reduce the number of deaths in accidents on motorbikes. Active prevention of such accidents are connected with the public awareness of safety precautions and overall compliance with them (Zasler & Katz, 2007, p. 88).
All the above said has conditioned our research. The main questions raised in our research are How effective is the use of helmets? Are there any disadvantages of wearing helmets? What is the history of helmet use laws in the USA and in other countries? How does the number of deaths among motorcyclists depend on helmet use laws? How do helmet use laws connect with the costs for health care? What is much better to have a good training or to have protective equipment? (Hough, 2010). All these questions need to be researched and answered in order to make officials and motorcyclists think over this burning issue.
Firstly, we are going to highlight the necessity of wearing helmets for motorcyclists and their passengers. The number of deaths among motorcyclists in the countries where there is no strict rule of wearing helmets exceeds this number in those countries where this law is strictly followed and its non-observance is punished. We are going to provide the consequences of the neglect of this rule. At last, we want to provide the means that help to make the use of helmets more popular and even obligatory. Every motorcyclist as well as the passenger should be aware of the safety precautions (Helmet Use Saves Lives, n. d.). The results of our research should attract the public attention and changes their attitude to the observance of the safety tips. Everyone should realize that our health is in our hands and we are able to protect our life with such simple rules as wearing a helmet.
References List
Barth, L. (2011). State-by-state Guide to Motorcycle Helmet Laws. Web.
Helmet Use Saves Lives (n. d.). Web.
Hough, D. L. (2010). Proficient Motorcycling the Ultimate Guide to Riding Well. New York: BowTie Inc..
Motorcycle and Bicycle Helmet Use Laws (2012). Web.
Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws (2012). Web.
Zasler, N. D., & Katz, D. I. (2007). Brain injury medicine: principles and practice. New York: Demos.