Why do we have to wear seat belts, but motocycle helments are optional?

Wearing A Helmet is Law for Bikers here in the UK..Which part of the world is this that must have such an open and generous Organ Donor Program? I'm in no immediate need of a kidney or Liver,but it's nice to know where it would be a good place to visit if I ever did...

I think one must wear helmet when riding a bike. After all Precaution is far better than cure.

how about...why do you have to wear seat belts when motorcyclists do not.

I am in Italy and here both seatbelts and helmets are compulsory. It is also illegal to transport children under a certain age on motor cycles and under a certain age they MUST be seated in the rear seat of a car in a specail kiddies seat.

First this is something that is decided upon by the state. We were from a state that did require helmets...now we aren't. So it all depends. Plus there is a lot of debate about the safety of motorcycle helmets. On one hand if you smash your head it is a good thing, but there are a lot of cases where people break their necks because of the weight of the helmet. All in all, motorcycles are dangerous.

Yup, it's definitely more dangerous on a bike, and the fatality rate during a crash is higher for bikers. Over here, the helmet rule has always been there, and the car seat belts. Now the government has enforced the use of back passenger seatbelts as well.

Oh in Manitoba, Canada motorcyclists are supposed to wear helmets and not only that, kids riding bicycles and tricycles. We do have some rather silly laws here. And if you want to have a very good laugh, I have here a link to a page of our silly laws. http://www.geocities.com/matthewjedi/sillylaws.html that is, if you want to have a good laugh. I remember an old law about having to have one horse ready for the guy you want to get out of town, but do not know if it was a Canadian silly law or not.

I knew a nurse, who would say, no helmet meant scrambled brains, but helmets mean broken necks. They might survive the accident, but "WALK AWAY" wasn't part of the deal.

You mean to say there are still states in the US that don't have a motorcycle helmet law? I agree, it does seem ridiculous. I'm just thankful it isn't this way in California. There is a seat belt law as well as a helmet law here. They may have some screwy laws here, but this is one that I agree with. I sure wouldn't want to see some biker's head pop off because he wrecked and wasn't smart enough to wear a helmet.

in my area,it is mandatory to wear a helmet.it's been a law for awhile. the one that surprises me is the fact school buses don't have seat belts. who could possibly need a seat belt more than children?

No, it doesn't make much sense to me either. I live in Florida and seat belts are required by law but helmets are not as long as you have medical coverage...to pay for the life threatening injuries you may sustain in an accident. My husband refuses to wear a helmet and he rides every day.

i know in other countries, it is a "must" to wear helmets when your riding motorcycle, same as seatbelts are required in a car too. here in my country, especially major streets and highways, there will be a penalty when you are caught not wearing helmet while riding in motorcyle.But in other streets, they just dont care about it. Motorcycle is " coffin on wheels" because tragic accidents happened compare to other types of vehicles. A four wheeled vehicle is more safe. happy mylotting and smile always!

Wearing seat-belts in a car is a must, and wearing helmets for motorcyclists whenever they are on the road is compulsory as well here. So, there is no chance of spotting any motorcyclist without a helmet over here.

i think motorcycle helmets are not optional because, motorcycles are more dangerous than cars on the road. and you're very exposed when you're riding a motorcycle than when you're inside a car. although motorcyclists here are don't obey the traffic lights. happy earning my friend!