Freedom v responsibility – another view

As our country confronts rising health care costs, it is incumbent on all of us to take responsibility for our actions and not rely on others to pay for our “freedoms”. One small way to address this is for motorcyclists who ride without helmets to buy health insurance to cover the costs of injuries.
In response to my post on that subject yesterday, I heard from Pete terHorst of the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) who took issue with my recommendation. Pete was courteous, responsive and is likely an excellent debater. He made a couple of points that I do not agree with – here’s the summary.
My central point was this: Those who seek personal freedom should bear the cost of that freedom. Simple, basic idea, right?
– medical costs for helmetless cyclists involved in crashes are substantially higher than for those riding with helmets;
– many don’t have health insurance and thus uncompensated providers, taxpayers and private insureds cover their costs;
– if states want to repeal helmet laws, then require those riding without helmets to buy medical insurance to cover all potential costs.
Not so simple, according to the AMA.
Pete’s initial comment cited some old research re the cost of motorcyclist trauma care relative to auto injury care and the percentage of riders covered v drivers. This was, in my view, not germane to my central point – so I asked Pete “do you think helmetless riders should not be required to have insurance coverage?. After some back and forthing and Pete’s diversion into discussion of helmet mandates v accident prevention, I tried to steer the conversation back to the central issue, to wit:
“It is appropriate behavior for those individuals to assume the responsibility that goes with their freedom to ride without a helmet.”
Here, are a couple of Pete’s responses:
What the AMA and its members expect is fairness. When the insurance
industry singles out and seeks additional revenue from motorcyclists
for behaviors it considers risky, the logical extension of that
mindset is that the insurance industry would do the same for other
so-called risky behavior. [I’d note that nowhere did I suggest the insurance industry single anyone out, but rather legislators pass a bill mandating medical insurance for helmetless riders] But it does not, because singling what is
risky and what is not is a very slippery slope to tread, and involves
taking on mainstream segments of society that currently represent a
significant revenue stream for insurance industry. [again, I didn’t say anything about insurance companies supporting, backing or conceiving of any such plan] Conversely,
motorcycling is not an activity that most Americans participate in,
and it is a visible and easy target for those who do not understand
its appeal. Bottom line: The AMA does not expect special treatment for
motorcyclists, it expects — and advocates for — fair treatment… The AMA doesn’t favor requiring unhelmeted motorcyclists carry additional medical insurance that is not required of other road users.
If I follow the logic, as long as others are allowed to be “free riders”, the AMA wants motorcyclists to be free riders as well.
Somehow that doesn’t seem right. Here’s a group who wants the freedom to ride without helmets but doesn’t want to pay the cost for that – unless every other participant in risky behavior is also forced to do so. That strikes me as selfish and irresponsible; “just because he gets away with it I want to get away with it too.”
Pete also argued that requiring helmetless riders to get medical coverage would somehow be unfair, and it would head us down a slippery slope – I don’t see this at all; my recommendation would be handled under traffic/motor vehicle laws, and it is abundantly clear (check the sources in the post yesterday) that riders without helmets in accidents are much more expensive to care for than helmeted riders.
What does this mean for you?
Watch our for free riders…