A law that says you must wear a helmet while riding a bicycle?

L

Larry T

New member
Wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle can be a good idea in some situations. But in Australia we have a law that says we must. Using sun-cream while outside can be a good idea in some situations. Avoiding fatty foods can be a good idea too, but we don't have laws about these. Why is that? Bicycle use had fallen significantly since the law was introduced and car usage has risen. Shouldn't we be doing everything we can to encourage bicycles, not discourage them?
 
Australia has a taxpayer funded health-care system. When you fall off your bike with no helmet, smack your skull on the curb, and attain the IQ of a Vegamite sarny for the next 50 years, it is the taxpayers that have to pay the hundreds of thousands of dollars a year it costs to house you.

If you get lucky and die instead of spending 50 years in diapers and bed-sores, then it's the government that has to care for your surviving dependents.

As a result, to keep those costs down, it is reasonable for the Government to require you to wear a helmet.

Richard
 
In a society where health care is provided for you, there are certain responsibilities you must assume to keep the costs down, including seat belts in cars and helmets on bikes and scooters. The loss of a little freedom can increase the chance of not having major injuries in an accident. Unlike sun-cream and proper diet habits, helmets are quite visible and is would be easy to enforce any law that requires them.
 
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