Hardheaded?

By Kathleen Kingsbury

When motorcyclists wear helmets, they are less likely to die if they crash--no one disputes that. But should helmets be mandatory? The question came to the fore last week after Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a helmet opponent, crashed his bike, breaking his jaw. Pennsylvania didn't require him to wear a helmet; 30 states have rolled back their helmet laws since the 1960s, and more may follow. Some riders argue that as long as they don't hurt others, the risk is theirs to take. Others question the efficacy of helmets. Federal standards require that they withstand a crash at 13 m.p.h., and "who drives that slow?" asks Vince Consiglio of American Bikers Aiming Toward Education in Michigan. He says boots and vests are more vital. "If a biker's going down, he's first going to protect his head."

But advocates of laws argue that in 2004 alone, the lives of 671 riders could have been saved if they had worn helmets. They now have an ally in Roethlisberger. "If I ever ride again," he said last week, "it certainly will be with a helmet."