3 ms·

Helmets aren't required in all US states (not sure why people don't wear them anyway, but some people don't).

• dvt 6y ago
  > which seems strange but I guess ones life is their own business It's not strange at all. America is a federation of states which get to tax you, and get to pass their own laws. Your Mayor and Governor have much more impact in your day-to-day life than the President.
  • mythrwy 6y ago
    Right, sorry, comment edited while you were responding. It just seems to strange to me they wouldn't be required in every state because it's such a severe safety hazard not to wear them.
    • dmckeon 6y ago
      Because in the US, states get to make some rules, and the federal government gets to make some other rules, and each is protective of their rights and prerogatives as enumerated in the US constitution, as amended. Look into amendments 9, 10, 13, & 14 for more. When the US federal government has wanted to enforce things like a nation-wide speed limit, or vehicle safety requirements, they have had to threaten to withhold highway funding to get states to go along by passing state-by-state laws. In theory, the same could be done with helmet laws, but enough political energy has not materialized for that to happen. This pattern will have implications for full-self-driving vehicles.
      • mythrwy 6y ago
        Yes thanks, I'm aware of how the federal system works. Really in the weeds by now, but it just seems strange to me that each state has not decided, on it's own (as per the structure of our federal and state system of governance), to make helmets mandatory.