House Votes To Raise Mandatory Life Jacket Age

[KonaChick]

I agree that laws should be enacted to protect us however it's been said before on this forum and I'll say it again..you just can't dictate common sense. New Hampshire does not have a helmet law for motorcyles which I personally think is insane...how many lives could be saved by passing a helmet law in New Hampshire?? It's one that would not take too much effort to enforce either, as you can cleary tell if a rider has a helmet or not. I guess I'm just saying you can pass all the laws you want and some will agree and some will disagree...you just can't legislate common sense!

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by KonaChick

I agree that laws should be enacted to protect us however it's been said before on this forum and I'll say it again..you just can't dictate common sense. New Hampshire does not have a helmet law for motorcyles which I personally think is insane...how many lives could be saved by passing a helmet law in New Hampshire?? It's one that would not take too much effort to enforce either, as you can cleary tell if a rider has a helmet or not. I guess I'm just saying you can pass all the laws you want and some will agree and some will disagree...you just can't legislate common sense!

The difference between a mandatory helmet law and the proposed life jacket law, is that the helmet law protects an adult from her/himself and the life jacket law protects ignorant children from potentially dangerous situations adults put them in. NH already has laws that make motorcycle helmets amd seatbelts mandatory for those under 18. I have no issue with laws protecting children. My kids, 10 and 12, wear their life jackets on deck when underway (oddly, the proposed law mirrors our boat rules precisely).

I do have issues with helmet laws for adults, though. I like the freedom of choice even though I always wear full gear (not just a full face helmet, but over $1000 worth of high quality, very effective, protective gear) when I ride one of my motorcycles. If folks want to ride without gear, I say let them. They're not endangering anyone but themselves. Same deal with seatbelts. I wear mine all the time. Don't care what other adults do.

[KonaChick]

I wasn't comparing the two laws simply saying that you can't dictate commone sense..it's common sense to wear a helmet when you ride a motorcycle because if you were to fall off your head would probably suffer siginifcantly less damage then if you were riding sans hemlet...just like wearing a helmet when you ride a snowmobile or bicycle. It's all about common sense, some people have it, some don't. No matter how many laws you enact you will NEVER be able to protect people from themselves, plain and simple.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by KonaChick

I wasn't comparing the two laws simply saying that you can't dictate commone sense..it's common sense to wear a helmet when you ride a motorcycle because if you were to fall off your head would probably suffer siginifcantly less damage then if you were riding sans hemlet...just like wearing a helmet when you ride a snowmobile or bicycle. It's all about common sense, some people have it, some don't. No matter how many laws you enact you will NEVER be able to protect people from themselves, plain and simple.

We are in agreement about common sense, but you also stated that you advocate a helmet law. That's the part I was debating. I don't want any laws protecting me from me, I'm quite comfortable taking responsibility for myself.

[KonaChick]

Originally Posted by Dave R

We are in agreement about common sense, but you also stated that you advocate a helmet law. That's the part I was debating. I don't want any laws protecting me from me, I'm quite comfortable taking responsibility for myself.

I agree Dave, I don't think there could ever be a law enacted to protect you from yourself.