Stow that helmet if you want.
Charlie St. Clair, executive director of Laconia Motorcycle Week, and many other motorcyclists say they only wear a helmet in states where they are forced to do so.
New Hampshire isn't one of those states.
In these parts, many people think education — not mandatory helmets — will save lives. That education is focused on public awareness and motorcyclist training, said Peter Thomson, head of the New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency.
The state's safety awareness campaign goes into full swing in May and June, before Motorcycle Week from June 14 to 22. It includes roadside safety messages, the distribution of bumper stickers and an annual rally on the State House steps.
The information blitz urges the public to share road space with motorcycles, and riders and drivers to be aware of each other.
The state police always urge motorists to increase following distances, not to crowd the center line and not to drink and drive, said Sgt. Steven Ford.
Ford, himself, rides a motorcycle in his personal life and always wears a helmet. His experience responding to accidents tells him that helmets save lives.
"Some are so devastating that it wouldn't make a difference, but if you have a serious head injury ..." he said, pointing out a helmet wouldn't help in that case.
State safety officials also urge motorcyclists to attend the Motorcycle Rider Training Program, offered by the state Division of Motor Vehicles. Two private companies also offer the class.
About 64,000 motorcycles are registered in New Hampshire. Last year, about 3,000 people took the classes through the state, and another 650 through the two private companies, Thomson said.
He said the program helps novices and older people who haven't ridden for years. While motorcycles have become faster and bigger, he said, older riders' reflexes have slowed with age.
Course coordinator Katie Daley said the class includes instruction on turning, stopping, avoiding vehicles, shifting and wearing a helmet.
"(We) absolutely recommend everyone wear a helmet," she said. "No one goes through our course without one."
Nonetheless, the state has no intention of enacting a helmet law for adults, lawmakers say.
New Hampshire champions the rights of individuals to choose for themselves. St. Clair, Thomson, and Sen. Robert Letourneau, R-Derry, are among those who support an adult's right to choose whether to wear a helmet.
Is it ironic, that the state won't enact a helmet law but it also won't let you take its safety class without one?
No, Letourneau says.
Those who take the basic course never leave the parking lot, he said. The helmet is needed for liability reasons, he said.
He and St. Clair both said that helmet manufacturers claim their product provides only limited protection.
An industry figure given out in the 1980s maintains that a helmet provides limited protection up to 15 miles per hour, St. Clair said.
"No greater than that," he said, saying that helmets have not changed much since then.
The New Hampshire Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Task Force was formed in 2004, after motorcycle fatalities tripled to 27 from nine in 2003.
The task force decided from the outset that it would push for driver and rider education as a means to reduce fatalities — and not press the Legislature to enact a mandatory helmet law. The state only requires helmets for motorcycle riders under 18.
"If I rode (a motorcycle), I'd wear one," Thomson said. "But I wouldn't push for a law."
At least one task force member thinks mandatory helmets would save lives.
"Although a mandatory helmet law isn't a popular subject, it makes sense when it comes to saving lives," John Kohler said.
Kohler, who offers private motorcycle safety courses, said that at "a minimum new riders should be made to wear a helmet for a period of time."
Letourneau, who has been riding motorcycles for 40 years and owns a Harley-Davidson touring bike, estimates that about half, maybe a little more, of motorcycle riders in the state wear helmets. He bases this on personal observation.
He wears one — on occasion.
St. Clair said most motorcyclists prefer not to wear a helmet. They can be cumbersome and interfere with what some motorcyclists describe as a spiritual experience.
"I am much more comfortable without one," he said.
Many of the riders pouring into the state during Motorcycle Week will be riding without helmets. St. Clair expects about 300,000 visitors from June 14 to 22.
But with many more motorcyclists in the state during Motorcycle Week, the chance of accidents and fatalities rises. There were 10 fatalities during bike week 2006, and five last year.
To help counter the number of deaths, state police go into full patrol mode during Motorcycle Week and help out around Laconia. Trooper days off are cancelled. Vacation days only are allowed for special circumstances, said Ford.
Meanwhile, some say the Legislature would never enact a mandatory helmet law because it would hurt attendance at Motorcycle Week and cut into the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by visitors.
Letourneau acknowledges that a mandatory helmet law would "do a lot of damage to" bike week. But, he said, the issue is a matter of adults being free to make their own choices.
"This is the Live Free or Die state," he said.
Bike Week fatalities
Year%Number of deaths% Deaths where rider did not wear helmet
2004%5%4
2005%4%4
2006%10%9
2007%5%5
Statewide motorcycle fatalities
Year%Number of deaths% Deaths where rider did not wear helmet
2004%27%15
2005%42%34
2006%21%16
2007%25%14
Source: N.H. Department of Motor Vehicles
