Since I turned 50 the motto for my life has been “safety third”. I don’t wear bike helmets, seat belts, or cups. It’s not that these and other equipment are not helpful, at my age, I want more thrills than pills. Indulge me…
I was ticketed last year in my neighborhood for driving without a seat belt. I told the officer that I could stand naked in the road and be hit by a car going 20 mph and survive. He reminded me that over 90% of traffic fatalities happen within 5 miles of your home. I responded nicely that 95% of my driving is within 5 miles of my home. Chances are slim that I am going to die by traffic accident in Seattle!
Sorry, but bike helmets are the dumbest looking things on the planet. I wonder if the inventors are laughing their faces off on a Carribean island someplace? Were they thinking safety or was it the evolution of the “kick me” sign secretly placed on backs? I question the sanity of people riding bikes on busy highways. Do they actually believe a helmet will help when my 86 year old mother gives them a Buick beating because she can’t see them? If safety is your concern, get off the damn road!
I am not anti-safety. Bike helmets are iffy, but football helmets are necessary. There is a big difference between using your head to hit on every play and casually riding a bike across the park.
I am an avid cyclist. I ride with no safety equipment, bright colors, or lights. I even ride at night with no fear of being hit. I don’t expect cars to see me or give me the right of way. I will ride where they are not. At my age the bigger danger is falling asleep at the handle bar.
Back to my mother, she is afraid of everything. She can’t eat what she wants for fear that it will cause cancer, or worse, weight gain. She hates flying for fear of crashing. Now she is worried about radiation from her cell phone.
For me, I am looking for higher risk activities that won’t aggravate my back ache. My goal is not longevity. When they do an autopsy after my death I hope the doctor says, “man, he couldn’t have lived another second.” I may start smoking!
Since my usual topic is the colossal failure of big government, allow this final word. OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. I think it stands for Oh Shoot, Health Nazi’s again. The government loves safety. It is the best way to exert control over it’s citizens.
Amen! If it’s time for me to die, let it happen quickly!! Oh, and by the way, if it is my time, no amout of safety equipment will stop the Good Lord from taking my soul….