Letters: Helmets are not always as safe as some think

I have been a motorcyclist for more than 40 years, and a member and officer with American Bikers Advocating Training and Education (A.B.A.T.E.) of the Garden State, for the last 10 years. An article on June 9, "Pa. helmet bill reintroduced, and motorcyclists rally to fight it," cited research that might lead one to think there are no good reasons not to wear a helmet. But actually, there are. Here are three:

Full-face helmets, quite beneficial under 20 to 25 m.p.h., at higher speeds become 200-pound weights that pull the wearer up and over the handlebars, creating a human projectile.

A full-face helmet that fits properly restricts the wearer's peripheral vision and his hearing.

Sudden impact with any kind of helmet has been known to propel the wearer forward with enough force to break his neck.

May I suggest that before advocating either the use or nonuse of helmets, it would be practical and informative to obtain some input from the motorcyclists who have to make the decision?

Frank C. Maimone

A.B.A.T.E. of the Garden State

SouthWest Chapter State Representative

Voorhees