lawyerboxus

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The Georgia state legislature has passed a bicycle helmet law. This is intended to prevent cyclists from suffering severe injuries or fatalities during a collision. Though this law does not punish the at-fault rider, it is a good idea to make sure your child wears bicycle safety gear. The state of Georgia does not require parents to wear a bicycle helmet but encourages bicycle riders to do so. A bike helmet can help limit the arguments that a negligent motorist can use in a personal injury lawsuit.

The law requires that children wear bicycle safety equipment. This equipment is required by local governments, and cyclists must wear a helmet while on the road. It also prohibits cyclists from riding electric bicycles and tricycles with an electric motor that is less than 750 watts. A bicycle helmet may also prevent injury if the child falls off the bike. This law does not apply to e-bikes or scooters, but they must have pedals, a seat, and a chain.

A bicycle helmet in Georgia must meet the standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). It must be properly fitted on the head and fit securely. The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) sets standards for bicycle helmets. A qualified helmet must have straps fastened under the chin and be seated securely on the head. A bike helmet must comply with the bicycle helmet law georgia. The helmet must also be certified as meeting impact safety requirements.

While bicycles are prohibited from controlled-access highways, they are allowed on interstate roads. ANSI compliant cycling helmets are required for under-16s. A parent can be fined if they fail to provide a bike helmet for a child. However, cyclists who are 16 years of age are not required to wear a helmet. They are not subject to criminal prosecution under the Georgia cycle statute. A child who is riding an unprotected bicycle is not allowed to ride on a road without a helmet.

A child who is not wearing a bicycle helmet in Georgia is considered at fault for the accident. According to a ThinkFirst report, a child under the age of 16 does not have to wear a bicycle helmet. This law is meant to protect the safety of everyone. If a parent is negligent, he or she can be held liable for the child's negligence. Consequently, it is important to make sure that your child is wearing a bike helmet.

The law requires cyclists under the age of 16 to wear a bicycle helmet. If they do not, they may also be at fault for the accident. Nonetheless, a Georgia cyclist who is injured in a crash should always wear a bike helmet. The state's cycling laws are very strict, so it is important to comply with these laws. If you're not wearing a bicycle hat, you may be guilty of a misdemeanor.
 

Nealh

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Sounds like you got the wrong forum, try endless sphere in North america.
 
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guerney

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While cycling on the road a couple of weeks ago, I saw a kid on a small mountain bike, riding along the pavement unhelmeted towards me on the left... his parents were walking behind him. I shouted "HELMET!", as I passed by. The mother looked at the father and said "I told you so", and the bloke looked shocked at being shouted at by some random nutter cyclist.
 
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jimriley

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Although I wear a helmet now and advocate it, I remember doing all sorts on my old Hercules with rod pull stirrup brakes as a kid, building ramps with dad's decorating plank, towing bogies, going scrambling on rough ground, whizzing down a local steep road with a blind junction at the bottom, there must be others here who did it too. How did we survive?
 

Nealh

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Interesting point though, that helmets for kids should be mandatory.
Now tell that to the dad whose young daughter was strangled by her helmet a couple of years ago in an unfortunate accident, dad told her she was not to take it off.
 

Nealh

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Although I wear a helmet now and advocate it, I remember doing all sorts on my old Hercules with rod pull stirrup brakes as a kid, building ramps with dad's decorating plank, towing bogies, going scrambling on rough ground, whizzing down a local steep road with a blind junction at the bottom, there must be others here who did it too. How did we survive?
Because we did and it was part of growing up when we had more freedom and less left wing nanny state guidance.
Accidents are part of life and will occur.
 
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soundwave

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Now tell that to the dad whose young daughter was strangled by her helmet a couple of years ago in an unfortunate accident, dad told her she was not to take it off.

yet we dont ban motorbike racing do we yet f1 drivers get way more protection and can take more risks and not pay the ultimate price.

so lets change the tracks ;)

 

guerney

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Now tell that to the dad whose young daughter was strangled by her helmet a couple of years ago in an unfortunate accident, dad told her she was not to take it off.
I don't like or trust the top-hat style helmets with straps - I use the BMX style with jawguard, one that fits well enough to not need one. My head has hit the ground twice hard with that so far, it didn't fall off and protected my head and jaw well. Turns out that my gas engineer is an ex-motorcyclist - broke his foot, damaged his knee, broke a collarbone and his jaw in an accident - he'd used a open faced style motorbike helmet of the time. (Now in his 60s, knee is still a problem, lumpily healed collarbone hurts in the cold). A helmet with a jawguard would have prevented his broken jaw. But I can see that constantly buying ever larger full helmets with jawguards for kids, would be as much of a regular pain as it is for shoes.
 
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guerney

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This sort of helmet prevents jaw injury too:

 

sjpt

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Now tell that to the dad whose young daughter was strangled by her helmet a couple of years ago in an unfortunate accident, dad told her she was not to take it off.
One problem with helmets for kids is that they are almost always worn with the strap much too loose. This reduces its effectiveness in case of accident, and increases the risks of catching/strangling. I don't know if that was so in that sad case, but I think it quite likely.

I noticed in the original post A qualified helmet must have straps fastened under the chin and be seated securely on the head. Very difficult to enforce.
 

Nealh

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Helmets of the type they want folks to wear are next to useless bar from maybe protecting one at vert low speed from a tumble and possibly banging ones head. Get hit by another vehicle or some other propelled machine then a helmet has likely little or no use against injury.
All that their use is good for is to try and prevent insurers wiggling out of a claim should a claim against a third parties insurer is made.

They may provide a little piece of mind for some parents out with their kids who don't have the judgement that age brings but as adults one can take a better view on risk and putting ones self in the way of harm.

That said I do carry/wear a lid if I'm going proper off road where I know the risks may be greater and will stop and use it at times.
 
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flecc

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Kids helmets are a complete waste of time and money, since with their different head shape they are so often worn in a way that doesn't protect their face or front of skull against serious injury. Just look at these photos, many worn that way:

K helmet 1.jpgK helmet 2.jpgK helmet 3.jpg
 
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Nealh

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Yep once kids are out of view if allowed, one has no idea if or what they do with the fitting of one or it's use.
 

flecc

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Yep once kids are out of view if allowed, one has no idea if or what they do with the fitting of one or it's use.
But true even if the parents are there. Look at the third photo, how could those parents think their kids were protected by their helmets?

Trouble is that the younger the kid, the more different their rear skull to much smaller lower face proportions, leaving helmets and hats naturally fitting rearwards.
.
 
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AndyBike

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I suspect this thread is just a shameless plug for business
 
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Nealh

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This isn't america it has no relevance to us.