Wince...

[dave the german]

Ps. Cycle helmets should be compulsory on the road!
Annnnnd.........argue! [/quote]

Naah they shouldn't. Don't know why, just wanted to be contrary

[bikesnbones]

If someone makes the choice to wear speedo`s and flip-flops on their GSXR but has to be scrapped off the road and rebuilt, then perhaps the NHS bill should be paid by them, not you or me?

Sorry, but that's a daft argument.
OK then, the IOM privateer who loses it Cruikshank corner and has to be airlifted to hospital.
Let's make him pay the thousands in cost for an air ambulance.
What about the rider who crashes in an open face lid and needs facial reconstruction.
Perhaps he should pay for his own treatment for lack of adequate protection, and what about the driver of a convertible, who's car rolls over causing him extensive head injuries that would not have occurred if he'd had a metal roof.
Make him pay ?
Oh yeah, and what about the driver of a vintage car, who suffers the type of injuries that could have been avoided if he's had air bags fitted.
Make em pay ?
In fact maybe we motorcyclists in general should be made to pay when it goes wrong.
After all, it's our lifestyle choice.
All of us have access to a car that provides far superior protection,
Why should the tax payer foot the bill for our lifestyle choice.
And so on.
Once you start getting into selective NHS health care, you enter very dangerous territory.

[bikesnbones]

If someone makes the choice to wear speedo`s and flip-flops on their GSXR but has to be scrapped off the road and rebuilt, then perhaps the NHS bill should be paid by them, not you or me?

Sorry, but that's a daft argument.
OK then, the IOM privateer who loses it Cruikshank corner and has to be airlifted to hospital.
Let's make him pay the thousands in cost for an air ambulance.
After all, he's taking such a huge risk in a dangerous sport.
Why should we pay for that.
What about the rider who crashes in an open face lid and needs facial reconstruction.
Perhaps he should pay for his own treatment for lack of adequate protection, and what about the driver of a convertible, who's car rolls over causing him extensive head injuries that would not have occurred if he'd had a metal roof.
Make him pay ?
Oh yeah, and what about the driver of a vintage car, who suffers the type of injuries that could have been avoided if he's had air bags fitted.
Make em pay ?
In fact maybe we motorcyclists in general should be made to pay when it goes wrong.
After all, it's our lifestyle choice.
All of us have access to a car that provides far superior protection,
Why should the tax payer foot the bill for our lifestyle choice.
And so on.
Once you start getting into selective NHS health care, you enter very dangerous territory because we all take risks that many may consider ludicrous, including riding a bike in the first place.

[madthemad]

During my week in Lindos Greece, I cannot count the number of young people riding in t-shirts flip-flops and girls riding in bikinis. And, they were not slow riders

[Grip Fast]

I hardly ever wore my crash helmet when I were a lad.  One of the few times I did, I had my first accident and crashed into the side of an Austin A40 which pulled in to park on the left side of the road then as I drew level, decided to park on the right side.  I was probably doing 10 mph when we hit and I smacked my head on the edge of his roof and cracked the helmet.  After that I always wore a helmet, except when my girlfriend went on the back of my C15, then I made her wear it. We hadn't a clue really, but that's an education problem not a law problem - I'd have probably ignored laws back then anyway.

A couple of years ago my mate lost the back end when going down a steep hill in very wet conditions.  He was doing about 30 mph and wearing protective gear, but got cracked ribs, bruising from hell and skinned knees.  I shudder to think what the damage would have been without the gear.

But, I hate with a passion that the nannies want to tell us what to wear on bikes.  I want the decision to be mine, based on an informed choice, not theirs.  Education every time, not more laws.

[f90x]

Should there be new laws introduced making the wearing of protective gear (ATGATT) compulsory ?

Absolutely not!!! I always wear protective gear in the UK and even when riding in Europe but for the first time this year I was down to jeans whilst in the South of France. It was SO hot that I had to strap my Goretex overtrousers to the rack and ride the remaining 400 miles in my jeans. I did not feel 100% happy (especially in the marvelous mountain roads just above Beziers but as the goretex liner does not detatch I had to ditch them as I was melting in the near 40c heat. If I ever bike to particularly hot climes in the future I shall invest in a really good pair of Kevlar jeans. I also continued my journey east to Grenoble in jeans down the motorway. I could never 'not' wear a jacket and gloves though and even though I was always a little jealous of the locals who for the most part ride bereft of any protective clothing I could not do it. It only takes one minor slip and you're off. Ask me how I know, go on. I dropped it in Switzerland Only a minor 1mph drop but very glad I had elbow armour in my jacket. I still don't think it should be made compulsory though.

[Harry Lime]

Deleted.

[f90x]

If the NHS were to be selective about health care, should smokers get free NHS care? (I'm an ex smoker BTW)

“smoking is the largest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK. It kills 106,000 people every year and costs the British taxpayer more than £1.7billion a year in treatment bills alone. It causes 84 per cent of deaths from lung cancer and 83 per cent of deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease, including bronchitis”

I can't be certain but I have a feeling that care resulting from lack of protective clothing does not reach that level. There is of course the aurgument that tax revinue generated from smoking covers that bill, and it is true, it does. Last year alone the excise duty on tobacco reached £9.5 billion, so at least smokers already pay for their treatment in a backhanded way.

http://www.the-tma.org.uk/tma-publicati ... m-tobacco/


Personally I think that we are very lucky to have a healthcare system that works as it does and is free to all of us. Long may it continue. It should never be selective and we should all be free to make our own choices in whatever pastimes that we choose.

[bikesnbones]

Personally I think that we are very lucky to have a healthcare system that works as it does and is free to all of us.

Common misunderstanding.
Healthcare in this country is paid for out of our wages and from our council tax.
The only people who get free healthcare are those who do not have to work.

[f90x]

Personally I think that we are very lucky to have a healthcare system that works as it does and is free to all of us.

Common misunderstanding.
Healthcare in this country is paid for out of our wages and from our council tax.
The only people who get free healthcare are those who do not have to work.

Ok, yes I realise that it is paid for by us and of course those that are super healthy and never visit the doctors may feel left out but for the relatively small cost to individuals it's still a great system. Also isn't it great that one can be out of work and still get healthcare. Bugger living in a country that doesn't look after the inhabitants.

[bikesnbones]

Ok, yes I realise that it is paid for by us and of course those that are super healthy and never visit the doctors may feel left out but for the relatively small cost to individuals it's still a great system. Also isn't it great that one can be out of work and still get healthcare. Bugger living in a country that doesn't look after the inhabitants.

I used to think that, till I found out that many life saving treatments available to private healthcare patients are not available on the NHS due to shortage of funds, but of course that's a whole other subject.

[Hayden]

I used to think that, till I found out that many life saving treatments available to private healthcare patients are not available on the NHS due to shortage of funds, but of course that's a whole other subject.

regarding paying for treatment, the above comment was kinda my point, the NHS cannot afford everything, and whilst its ok to get your skin graffed back on due to your own `choice`, have breast implants to further your modelling career ( then change your mind) have your stomach stapled because you cannot pass a cake shop, etc.etc, then it allways will be short of funds, spend a night on a trolley in a corridor and you may have a different opinion on things?

there`s genuine accidents, bad luck, even foolhardy behaviour, but thats different to expecting to be treated just because you`ve been a prat?
Bring back the poll tax aswell.....and hanging!...

[bikesnbones]

spend a night on a trolley in a corridor and you may have a different opinion on things?

When it's proven that motorcyclists who crash in shorts are a significant drain on resources, I may indeed have a different opinion.
My suspicion though, is that in the grand scheme of things, such cases represent a minute fraction of the overall costs to the NHS.

[eyore]

Oh dear, this has got everybody very cranky.

[slparry]

I used to think that, till I found out that many life saving treatments available to private healthcare patients are not available on the NHS due to shortage of funds, but of course that's a whole other subject.

regarding paying for treatment, the above comment was kinda my point, the NHS cannot afford everything, and whilst its ok to get your skin graffed back on due to your own `choice`, have breast implants to further your modelling career ( then change your mind) have your stomach stapled because you cannot pass a cake shop, etc.etc, then it allways will be short of funds, spend a night on a trolley in a corridor and you may have a different opinion on things?

there`s genuine accidents, bad luck, even foolhardy behaviour, but thats different to expecting to be treated just because you`ve been a prat?
Bring back the poll tax aswell.....and hanging!...

You mean it's possible to pass a cake shop!!!! Mmmmm not a pie shop though surely...and yes bring back hanging AND Introduce the guillotine for see offenders