JC> Do you ever convey yourself in an
JC> automobile or other automotive vehicle?  And do you wear a
JC> helmet while doing so?  
 JT> I wear a seat belt when I'm in a car.  I believe that a
  
Very nice dodge, but you have answered my question, and the answer was "No, I 
do not wear a helmet in the car."
 
 
FACT: Most traumatic head injuries occur during automobile accidents.
FACT: Most traumatic head injuries occur to the occupants of the
      vehicles in automobile accidents.
FACT: The most serious and debilitating traumatic head injuries
      occur to the occupants of motor vehicles during automobile
      accidents.
FACT: Most of the money spent treating traumatic head injuries is
      expended upon injuried passengers of motor vehicles.
 
 JT> responsible adult should use reasonable precautions to avoid the
 JT> possibility of becoming a burden to society.  With the costs of
 JT> treating and rehabilitating head injuries easily reaching several
 JT> hundred thousand to over a million dollars per case -- not
 JT> including what society spends on long-term disability support 
 JT> and loss of that person's productive labor -- I do not see it as 
 JT> unreasonable to expect people to take some precautions in 
 JT> preventing or reducing the severity of such injuries.
 
Oh really?  Then please explain your FAILURE to take reasonable precautions 
in your own motor vehicle.  Please explain why you are placing society at 
such tremendous risk by REFUSING to wear a NASCAR approved crash helmet while 
riding in motor transport.
 
Since you should be well aware of the facts and statistics, you should know 
that there are far more car accidents than there are bicycle accidents, and 
that motor vehicle accidents occur at much higher speeds, with much higher 
masses.  You should know that automobile occupants are at a much greater risk 
of head trauma, and much more severe level of head trauma, than are bicycle 
riders.  You should be well versed in these statistics.  Can I assume you are 
aware of the facts, but refuse to do what is right because you're afraid 
you'll look like a fool wearing your helmet?
 
Can I assume you support a helmet law for the operators and passengers of all 
motor vehicles?
 
 JT> Do you object to being forced to drive on the right side of the
 JT> road?  Stop at stop signs?  Use headlights at night?  Why not?
 
I have no objection to safety regulations designed to protect others from 
serious injury due to my actions.  I would object to law that requires me to 
eat yellow squash and take vitamin pills based on a small group's belief 
system of what constitutes "personal safety".  I strongly object to 
well-monied interest spending considerable amounts to promote bicycles as a 
yuppy sport and not a serious form of alternative transportation.
--- Maximus 2.02
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