This past weekend the temperatures reached into the mid 50s. Dare we say that spring has sprung? The number of motorcycle riders rose incrementally with the temperatures. Since it’s still a little cold with the wind blowing in your face at some 65 odd miles per hour, it seemed that most riders did in fact have on their helmets. Even so, there were a few riders observed without these accoutrements.
Another direct effect of the rising temperatures is the growing number of motorcycle safety courses. One of the tractor stores in Bloomsburg was the site of one last Sunday, and LCCC is offering courses most Saturdays and Sundays moving forward through the summer. Taking this course helps to know how to observe the laws of the state as well as how to handle your bike in a more expert manner.
Let’s take a look at the way the helmet law in Pennsylvania is written. Most people seem to be under the impression that you just don’t have to wear a helmet if you choose not to. That’s not quite true. Hmmm, you say? What, then, is the law?
Currently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute lists Pennsylvania as a state with only a partial law. This law covers riders less than 21 years of age. The site states that “Pennsylvania’s motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first two years of licensure unless the operator has completed the safety course approved by PennDOT or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation” ( www.iihs.org/laws/HelmetUseCurrent.aspx#8). This partial law protects riders under the age of 21 and who have not been licensed for two years or have not taken the appropriate safety course.
This seems to be one law that makes some sense. If you think about it, those riders the law seeks to protect are the ones that are the least experienced of our brethren. Logically speaking, this group would be the most likely to have an accident, and the added protection of a helmet would be most beneficial.
In addition to helmets being required in the above-mentioned cases, it should be noted that protective eyewear must be worn both on- and off-road. Like the helmets, the eyewear must be approved by the department of transportation.
If the equipment is in fact approved by the department of transportation, there will be a DOT on the helmet, usually on the outside back of the helmet. Always be sure to look for that approval. The approval is based upon the national highway safety standards.
That is not to give the impression that there is a uniform look to the choice of helmets up for sale at your local dealer or on the Web at sites like Motorcycle-superstore.com. In these outlets you can find all sizes, shapes and colors — all DOT approved. You can even have a custom paint job done to match your bike. There are also a number of styles that you can choose from when selecting your safety gear. My choice: I just bought a Zox brand full-face with face shield and a one-touch release. The helmet color is pearl white. It has good visibility, and if I choose to I can get one of those custom paint jobs. Plus, this one has different colored face shields that I can purchase and a cool nose piece that keeps the face shield from fogging.
Another popular choice in style is the half-helmet that has no face shield and covers the head from forehead to the back of the head. With this type of helmet you would be required to wear eye protection. Whatever the style that you choose, make sure that the helmet fits your head comfortably and is not too loose or too tight.
Many stores carry helmets specially designed for women. These are not all pink, either; some had some radical designs of dragons and skulls. Many women are passengers on the back of someone else’s bike (though this statistic is rapidly changing) and are required to wear a helmet if they are under 21.
Our neighboring state of New York has a universal law which requires everyone to wear a helmet. So if you’re traveling upstate or to see Niagara Falls, be sure to put your helmet on before you leave the state.
For now you have the choice to use your helmet or not. Like all rules of the road or of life, the choice to obey them is ultimately up to you.
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