Motorcycle laws in the UK and Europe?

Ammo08

My state is considering lifting the requirement that you wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Personally, I think it's a mistake, I always wear a helmet, jeans, boots, gloves and a jacket of some type.

What are the laws like in the UK and Europe? I don't remember seeing anyone riding a motorcycle without a helmet, but I've only been to England, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Sir Miles

I'm not really sure about all the motorbike laws for the UK as I can't stand the things, but wearing a helmet is a legal requirement in the UK.

Silhouette Man

I hate motorbikes too, but this website gives you all of the relevant laws for motorbikes in the UK:

http://www.begin-motorcycling.co.uk/law.htm

Hope that helps! -{ (not while driving!)

AlphaOmegaSin

I told the other half that I was interested in purchasing a Motorbike, but she replied with a stern 'NO' )

Silhouette Man

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

I told the other half that I was interested in purchasing a Motorbike, but she replied with a stern 'NO' )

Very sensible woman - you should listen to her! )

AlphaOmegaSin

)

minigeff

"Never argue with a woman, they're always right"

AlphaOmegaSin

I learn't that the first Time I met her )

Silhouette Man

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

I learn't that the first Time I met her )

We all have to learn! )

AlphaOmegaSin

Right, back on Topic I think )

Lexi

stag wrote:

Given the rabid anti bike sentiments, no good me mentioning that I've been riding for thirty six years. (Not continuously you understand. I get off now & again for a cup of tea etc.)

....I've riden motorcycles, had one when I lived in Canada, a nifty little Honda cbr 450...loved it, but you certainly need to ride defensively in the UK. Riding without a helmet is ludicrous and just asking for trouble. I think if the law changes in your State, I would still recommend wearing one!

Hey, I think bicycle helmets should be law in the UK

always shaken

In the Uk ,it is compulsory to wear a crash helmet on the public high way, whilst riding or being a passenger on a motorcycle/scooter. But the stupid thing is ,you could take Lexis Honda CBR 450, take off the back wheel ,replace it with an axel of a VW for arguments sake , and then you can legaly ride it with no helmet. You can also legaly ride a motor cycle/scooter wearing just a pair of trainers (sneakers) and just a pair of football shorts, ie almost stark bollock naked ,and be totally legal, but woe betide you if you didn't wear your helmet.Now as Mr plod, ive seen people almost skinned alive,
after sliding down Her Majestys highway on their bare skin ,totally legal .(sorry Mrs Jones, your son Darren has been in an accident, his brain is ok ,but will need 90% skin grafts to his body 8-)

Thunderpussy

To quote Animal Farm ( sort of)
Four wheels good, two wheels bad. )

Silhouette Man

Ammo08 wrote:

My state is considering lifting the requirement that you wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Personally, I think it's a mistake, I always wear a helmet, jeans, boots, gloves and a jacket of some type.

What are the laws like in the UK and Europe? I don't remember seeing anyone riding a motorcycle without a helmet, but I've only been to England, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

That sounds like a monumentally foolish idea - I really hope that they don't do that! -{

always shaken

To ride any type of motor cycle/scooter on the highway with out any head protection ,is as most will agree,
fool hardy . But and its a big but (sticking ones neck out here) The Govt, should not be interfearing in peoples lives ,
it should be your choice ,if you want to take the risk . Where is it going to stop . Sorry but we (the Govt) are going to ban ,rugby,skydiving,horseriding,pot-hole-ing .Don't get me wrong ,I would no more get on the back of a MC with out a skid lid,than get in a cage of tigers with out a gun.

AlphaOmegaSin

I used to Skateboard (Don't do it as much now) -{

Sir Miles

always shaken wrote:

To ride any type of motor cycle/scooter on the highway with out any head protection ,is as most will agree, fool hardy . But and its a big but (sticking ones neck out here) The Govt, should not be interfearing in peoples lives , it should be your choice ,if you want to take the risk.

While I sort of agree, what about the person that accidentally knocks them off or causes them to swerve and fall off potentially killing them ? A crash helmet 'might' have saved them but you have to go the rest of your life knowing you killed someone when a crash helmet may have left them just bruised....tough call...

minigeff

The trouble is that judging by the amount of people I see speeding in icy conditions, driving at night without lights on, speeding past primary schools at kick-out time, using mobile phones whilst driving, driving the WRONG WAY down one way streets, dual carriageways and motorways, carrying children in the car without kiddy seats, rushing traffic lights as they turn red, driving through rail crossings while the barriers are down, doing 30 in a 50, tailgating people, 'brake checking' after cutting someone up on a motorway at 70, driving through pedestrian crossings while the light is red, parking across driveways and entrances to cul-de-sacs, parking over the white line or even sideways on in parking spaces, using parent and child or disabled spaces when the driver clearly doesn't qualify, or pulling out of side roads, slipways and roundabouts without any regard or thought of any oncoming traffic.....

I'd say that sadly the general population aren't capable of utilising any kind of common sense for each other, let alone themselves. Sometimes we just have to be told what to do, even if it's only for our own good.

I blame Thanatos.

always shaken

MG is right, unfortunately a majority of motorist do have to be protected from their own stupidity,even if it does take the nanny state to do it,

minigeff

always shaken wrote:

MG is right, unfortunately a majority of motorist do have to be protected from their own stupidity,even if it does take the nanny state to do it,

Indeed, in fact a perfect example of this lack of common sense is the YouTube clip I've just watched of a man eating a cactus.

Sir Miles

stag wrote:

It always seems ironic that while here in the UK we dish out driving licenses with relative impunity to the most moronic of applicants, firearms licenses are heavily controlled. Which of the two is the real license to kill?

Well, a gun has one function - to kill ! A car is designed to transport people from one point to another...so the CLEAR and SENSIBLE answer is gun !
And please let's try and stay on topic....

minigeff

Sir Miles wrote:

stag wrote:

It always seems ironic that while here in the UK we dish out driving licenses with relative impunity to the most moronic of applicants, firearms licenses are heavily controlled. Which of the two is the real license to kill?

Well, a gun has one function - to kill ! A car is designed to transport people from one point to another...so the CLEAR and SENSIBLE answer is gun !
And please let's try and stay on topic....

Sorry to go off topic but I can't agree with that at all.

Not all guns are designed for killing.

Most guns in the world are designed for killing, much in the same way that most vehicles in the world aren't, but in both cases there are exceptions to the general rule.

However, both guns and vehicles can and do kill many people obviously, but then again, according to Wikipedia, in 2007 and 28yr old woman died during a competition for a Nintendo wiki which involved drinking vast amounts of water without having a piss for a long time.

So I guess pretty much anything can kill you if you're stupid enough.

As for people eating cacti because someone will watch it, yeah I guess that must be the only draw or reason for anyone wanting to do that. Luckily though most of us are clever enough to let the others get hurt for our enjoyment.

Back on topic I've never seen the appeal of bikes, especially in colder climates.

There's good and bad drivers and riders in most places, but I still stick with the notion that instead of 'Think Bike' it should simply be 'Think'. Both car drivers and bike riders can be equally daft.

Oh and before we decend into an anti gun rant, the most commonly used murder weapon in the UK continues to be a knife.

Shouldn't we be looking at banning, licensing or getting rid of man's first made tool instead?

minigeff

In 2013 there were 1713 deaths from traffic collisions. There were also 551 murders, of which around 40 involved guns, with the vast majority being committed with illegally held handguns.

Sir Miles

minigeff wrote:

In 2013 there were 1713 deaths from traffic collisions. There were also 551 murders, of which around 40 involved guns, with the vast majority being committed with illegally held handguns.

Lies, damned lies and statistics 8-)

Please...this is thread about motorcycle laws...nothing else...take gun rants to PM...thanks

minigeff

Sorry pal, all figures off the 'official' government statistical sites.

Sir Miles

minigeff wrote:

Sorry pal, all figures off the 'official' government statistical sites.

Which can all be made up...and 'manipulated'...and they never tell the truth do they ? Statistics that is...
I wouldn't trust 99.99% of the worlds population with a potato - never mind anything that has the potential to harm...

minigeff

Hmmm.

Yeah I guess anything can be 'sexed up', but I don't understand why after instigating an obviously political move (ie Bliar and Brown's vote winning firearms act amendment) the government websites don't back up said amendment with statistical proof that it worked and was a good thing.

If anything the statistics point out the exact opposite.

Bit of an own goal no?

Thunderpussy

There are also rumours every so often about "leg protectors" being
Brought in.

Silhouette Man

minigeff wrote:

The trouble is that judging by the amount of people I see speeding in icy conditions, driving at night without lights on, speeding past primary schools at kick-out time, using mobile phones whilst driving, driving the WRONG WAY down one way streets, dual carriageways and motorways, carrying children in the car without kiddy seats, rushing traffic lights as they turn red, driving through rail crossings while the barriers are down, doing 30 in a 50, tailgating people, 'brake checking' after cutting someone up on a motorway at 70, driving through pedestrian crossings while the light is red, parking across driveways and entrances to cul-de-sacs, parking over the white line or even sideways on in parking spaces, using parent and child or disabled spaces when the driver clearly doesn't qualify, or pulling out of side roads, slipways and roundabouts without any regard or thought of any oncoming traffic.....

I'd say that sadly the general population aren't capable of utilising any kind of common sense for each other, let alone themselves. Sometimes we just have to be told what to do, even if it's only for our own good.

I blame Thanatos.

I agree 100% with this post. Just wanted to say that. -{