Wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle can save a life or reduce the chance of a head injury. Helmets are not perfect; people do die in accidents, even with helmets on. But a person has a much better chance when wearing a helmet; it has been proven many times over.

If someone says he cannot hear well with a helmet on — cannot hear the traffic coming up or around him — that person is just using an excuse.

There is a seat belt law because it saves lives. People use seat belts … why don’t they use helmets? If state officials can pass a law for seat belt use, why can’t they pass a law requiring people to put a helmet on?

Perhaps the reason is money. Not enough money in helmets.

In vehicles with seat belts, there are also air bags, which are costly, and other safety items; insurance costs are less and people can be fined for not wearing  seat belts.

So, until it is worth making a helmet law, there won’t be one in Maine.

Alan Girouard, Hartford