Motorcycling can be a dangerous hobby by Nina Gotzmannova

Since the traveling has appealed more people than ever, they are constantly looking for a way how to make it even better. The unconventional means of transport are still more and more popular and there's nothing more interesting or romantic than a motorcycle. Motorcycle riders are not Hell's Angels anymore. Virtually everyone can own a motorcycle and the smallest one, called "moped" can be in most countries ridden by age 16. Scooters, motorcycles with smaller wheels, are popular in Europe and in the sixties no one could be caught without his or her Vespa. But this hobby can be more dangerous than anyone can think. In U. S. doesn't exist law forcing the motorcycle riders to wear a proper helmet. The number of deaths caused by not wearing a head protection is rising the ninth straight year. National Transportation Safety Board has approved the motorcycle safety recommendations, but since they are only recommendations, a stronger federal law is needed. According to NTSB numbers riders without helmet are three times more likely to suffer a serious brain injury in a crash accident than those who are wearing a head protection. This effort has stirred the motorcycle right groups, who object to the new law and suggest rider education program instead. Nowadays only 20 states required riders to wear a helmet and three states have no helmet laws. In 1970 every state required its riders to wear a protective helmet. It may be nice to ride a motorcycle while the sun is setting and hair is blowing in the wind. But it may be safer rather to wear a helmet.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070912/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_motorcycle_safety;_ylt=AmlbDxzzpyvtapXZyQ8hdhms0NUE

by Nina Gotzmannova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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