By that logic, there is no need for helmets either then is there?
That has been debated and campaigned against already. Google 'Fred Hill'.
Unless we accept that a bike rider is a member of society.
Apparently it's debated as to whether they are even members of the human race... Yet strangely politicians don't encounter half as much ire.
Even though bikers are a minority, they are still part of society, and therefore entitled to as much protection as we can give them.
Right, so - Big steel leg protector panels all along the side of the bike, roll cages, air bags, arrestor hooks, crash cages, speed limiters, automatic engine-cutting circuits and stabiliser wheels, right?
Those and a host of similar add-ons have all been previously suggested and attempted to be made law...
How would you feel if you were no longer allowed to drive your shiny Aston Martin and the piloting duties must now be handled by a qualified and approved driver... or a computer device?
Perhaps full-on crumple safety that will protect anything you crash into, but by design render your £8-20,000 automobile an instant write-off?
Or if you had to drive fully encased in protective bubble-wrap?
All the fun, the joy and mostly the entire point of driving is pretty much gone and you'd be better off walking or taking the bus...
Laws are to protect society, and in road safety terms some of them are there to protect society from itself.
You want to protect bikers from themselves? Ban bikes. That's the only sure way to achieve this.
Cars will be next as even computer-controlled ones will probably get virusses (virii?) or something and cause deaths, or humans will be considered too ill of judgement to be trusted with a ton of moving metal.
Do you think it is OK to go riding a motorbike in shorts and t-shirt? If so, why?
Do you think it's OK to allow car drivers to go off with a radio capable of being turned up so loud that they cannot hear anything around them, or to carry passengers who may speak to the driver and thus divert their attention from the road?
How about having cups of steaming hot coffee that could spill all over them in the event of a crash?
How about driving in inappropriate footwear?
Same reason, I expect.
They have that option and choose something they are comfortable in.
Do you feel compulsary helmets is a bad thing? If so, why?
It's a pretty good idea, mainly as bikes don't always have a windscreen and a stone chip in the leg is not as hazardous to one's riding as one in the eye (fnar fnar).
I dont understand how people are resistant to the same logic being applied to protective clothing.
Because at this point in time the level of protection afforded by such clothing must often be compromised if one is to achieve a balance with practical clothing.
A massive suit of all-over bike armour is going to be useless if, after riding somewhere, you then have to completely change your outfit just so you can walk normally around the supermarket.
Would you drive a car down the shops, out to a show or to work if you had to wear (and then carry around) a full-on spacesuit every time?
Thing is, you make it law and because everyone has to now go get this kit, it will get even more expensive.
A full 2-piece set of kevlar-lined guaranteed 100% waterproof textile clothing can easily set you back £750. Add on boots, gloves and lid, you could be dropping over £1600 on kit. Make it mandatory, it could easily double.
That's more than some bikes cost to begin with!!
Do you also feel it is a bad thing that we control things like firearms in this country?
It's not a bad idea to control them... but HOW they are controlled is usually what matters most. We have banned legal ownership of the vast majority of firearms (real and even imitation), yet the people that went out to get a gun and do something illegal with it can still use pretty much the exact same channels to get the exact same illegal firearms as they did before the new laws were enacted.
What is the problem with making things safer using law?
Electricity is dangerous. People can die from accidentally electrocuting themselves. Therefore all home-building of PCs is now outlawed.
Nice and safe, eh...?
Being against safety measures just to give two fingers to the government is really short sighted in my opinion.
The government generally deserves that, though!
The fact is the entire country revolves around cars.
Motorcycles are an inconvenience for all but the people who enjoy riding them.
They're also apparently a dream for many who "don't have the balls" or "the self-control" to ride them, according to another thread on here.
Compulsary further training for bikers, compulsary bike awareness as part of the car practical and theory test.
Already far more bikers tend to undertake further training than car drivers and even the basic training is far more comprehensive.
But you can have all the training you want for whichever groups of road users you want - It will still get disregarded if the certainty and severity of punishment is not sufficiently convincing.
So it does not seem too much of an inconvenience to make it compulsary.
It's Summer.
Count the number you see simply riding without helmets. THAT is your target group.
I accept that maybe I am more biased than many due to my personal experiences, and having witnessed the injuries bikers get without protection I am a strong advocate of protective gear.
Most people seem to know someone who died on/off a bike and/or survived but with horrific injuries, if the general conversations that arrive at my door when people see that I ride are to be believed...