From the Sidelines: Helmets, although a drag, are a necessity
Sports reporter
Motorcycles are dangerous. Everybody knows that.
But driving a car can be as well, and we continue to do so.
The point isn't whether people should stop riding motorcycles, as much as it is they should start wearing helmets.
All the statistics are there. According to January 2006 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration safety facts, helmets reduce the chances of a fatality during a motorcycle crash by 37 percent. They also are cheap. The NHTSA reported helmets saved $19.5 billion from 1984-2002.
However, it may be a high-profile athlete who will have bikers strapping on a helmet.
At least we can hope.
After Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wrecked his Suzuki Hayabusa June 12 he ended up with missing teeth, a nine-inch gash to the head, multiple scrapes to the face, and a broken jaw.
The good news is he didn't die. The bad news, well, there's a lot.
His season is in now in jeopardy, although it looks like he may play, but still nothing can take you down from the high of winning the Super Bowl like smashing into a Chrysler New Yorker while riding a crotch rocket.
The only good thing that may come out of this is with Roethlisberger being such a high-profile guy, more riders will decided to wear a helmet.
Even if they are just going down the street.
Although I haven't ridden a motorcycle in years, it's a known fact riding without a helmet feels free, while a helmet, gloves, and eye wear can be restrictive.
It just seems restrictive is better than dead.
Of course hindsight is 20/20, and everyone can say, "See Ben I told you so." But foresight is not, and after some other athletes were injured in motorcycle accidents, a columnist in Pittsburgh wrote an open letter to Roethlisberger urging him to wear a helmet.
I guess Big Ben doesn't read the papers.
The fact of the matter is people don't stand a chance against the road, as one NFL player said, "The pavement is undefeated."
Roethlisberger found that out.
Hopefully others will realize it before they try and take it on without a helmet.
