Biker protesting helmet laws dies from head injury

[joslar15]

A 55-year-old biker protesting New York State’s law requiring helmet use died at a hospital Saturday after striking his head in an accident.

The Associated Press reports that Phillip A. Contos of Parish, N.Y., was riding with others through the town of Onondaga on Saturday afternoon without head protection, to protest the state’s requirement that bikers wear helmets.

Read more: Biker Dies Protesting New York's Motorcycle Helmet Law

Bitter irony. RIP.

 

[Integraholic]

I laughed, tbh.

 

[gunman41mag]

Now people know that they should use a helmet

 

[rjstew317]

the thing is that the top rating on a helmet is only good for an impact of up to 30mph, and that is typically only found on full face helmets (snell rating). most people who ride cruisers only wear brain buckets that have a DOT slide rating at best. If you don't want to wear a helmet then you shouldn't be forced too.

 

[Que]

I don't think this is very funny. My prayers certainly go out to his family. I'm glad that I'm not forced to use a helmet if I don't choose to. I've known people to die wearing helmets on bikes and seat belts in cars. He didn't believe in the law and he did what he could to fight for the rights of bikers in his state.

 

[joslar15]

the funny thing is that the top rating on a helmet is only good for an impact of up to 30mph, and that is typically only found on full face helmets (snell rating). most people who ride cruisers only wear brain buckets that have a DOT slide rating at best. If you don't want to wear a helmet then you shouldn't be forced too.

Same with seat belts.

 

[rjstew317]

Same with seat belts.

Absolutely, if you're of age you should be able to make that choice.

 

[Mike Elzinga]

Anyone who laughs at this is a pretty soulless person. I am saddened to see the loss of a fellow rider and fellow human being. I agree with him that we dont need more laws to protect us from ourselves. This is not proof that he was wrong, in that he never claimed it was safer to NOT wear a helmet, he claimed that it was an unjust encroachment by our government to mandate how we should live, and even in death, he is still right.

 

[femurphy77]

I don't believe in helmet laws or seat belt laws for consenting adults although I chose to use both. RIP brother!

 

[Daniel Koch]

What a shame. I love motorcycles, but tend to not operate them on highways as car drivers do not watch for bikes. I ride dirt bikes mostly.

 

[THard6]

won't change many minds..

Now people know that they should use a helmet

 

[Daniel Koch]

My thoughts and prayers are with the decedent's family. I lost my brother last year to diabetes and losing a loved one is always difficult.

 

[Benny]

Same with seat belts.

What I don't understand is how it is illegal to drive without a seat belt on, but riding a motorcycle is completely fine.

 

[96firephoenix]

I'm sorry he's dead, but this is thick with irony. It's like when anti-s get robbed at gunpoint and wish they had a gun.

 

[Rob377]

be smart. Wear the damn thing. Law or not.

I feel horrible for the guy and his family. He made his choice. Sucks that his choice left him dead.

And damn curse on the ABATE people who put out disinformation about helmets.

 

[Suprtek]

What I don't understand is how it is illegal to drive without a seat belt on, but riding a motorcycle is completely fine.

What I don't understand is why you expect nanny-state laws to make sense.

 

[Benny]

What I don't understand is why you expect nanny-state laws to make sense.

That's a fair point.

 

[lovemachine]

What I don't understand is how it is illegal to drive without a seat belt on, but riding a motorcycle is completely fine.

You could say the samething about school buses.

 

[Mike Elzinga]

Once again, no person protesting helmet laws ever made the claim that it was safer. No one is disputing helmet laws based on safety, but rather based on freedom.

Thoughts and prayers to the family of a fallen brother.

 

[ElsiePeaRN]

I don't believe in helmet laws or seat belt laws for consenting adults although I chose to use both. RIP brother!

^^^ This ^^^