Is it illegal to drive with a helmet?

Pov06

Quick question, would you get in trouble for driving a car with a racing helmet?

burstbuckle

Why?? What???

Pov06

burstbuckle wrote: »

Why?? What???

Not that I need it - asking from the legality aspect.

micraX

Ask the stig

Pov06

micraX wrote: »

Ask the stig

Hmm that reminds me of an episode on Top Gear where the Stig was pulled over by the coppers driving that Caterham in the UK

power pants

Pov06 wrote: »

Quick question, would you get in trouble for driving a car with a racing helmet?

id piss my pants if I saw that in real life :eek:

whomitconcerns

I would imagine that it would impinge on your periperal vision, so it would be driving without due care and attention maybe?

However, just saw on a police forum (UK based) that they would more likely just stop you and ask you why you were wearing it...and unless there was an issue..it would be ok..

http://www.policeoracle.com/forum/index.php?/topic/16295-wearing-a-full-face-helmet-in-a-road-vehicle/

Voodoomelon

I once saw a chap driving a white van down the M1 between Newry and Dundalk. The van had no windscreen and he was wearing a motorcycle helmet.

ironclaw

Seeing as the likes of the Ariel Atom / X-Bow is road legal and you pretty much have to wear one to drive it, I can't see it being illegal. You will probably draw an unholy amount of attention and I wouldn't drive if there was a recent post office / bank job

Your spatial awareness will be severely affected though so I'd consider it pretty unsafe on an open public road.

Kimbot

Well your line of sight will be less with a helmet on and also you wont be able to hear, so lets say an ambulance is trying to pass, you may be in its way without even knowing.

BMJD

taking boy racers to the next level

Tigger

your vision is not impaired by a helmet and you can still hear
youd hear less if you had the radio on loud

bugsntinas

motorcyclist wear them so why can't motorists?

corkgsxr

Tigger wrote: »

your vision is not impaired by a helmet and you can still hear
youd hear less if you had the radio on loud

Mm if bikers can manage it with ****e mirrors im sure you ca. Do better in a car

creedp

Maybe the RSA should consider adding this additional safety feature to the ROTR. Imagine how safe you would be driving along on a fine summers day (with no A/C and windows closed) wearing a helmet and with your headlights blazing ..

sogood

Pov06 wrote: »

Quick question, would you get in trouble for driving a car with a racing helmet?

I assume you don't mean "only" wearing a racing helmet?

Guy:Incognito

bugsntinas wrote: »

motorcyclist wear them so why can't motorists?

Motorcyclists can die from a small accident if they bump their heads. Its a trade off.

KTRIC

There are car specific helmets available, have a look here http://simpsonraceproducts.com/

Unless you're in a completely open car like a KTM X-Bow or an Ariel Atom I really dont see the point.

Dr Turk Turkelton

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Motorcyclists can die from a small accident if they bump their heads. Its a trade off.

You mustn't frequent the cycling forum.
Apperantly the human skull is the hardest object known to man and nothing can break it so it is mandatory as a cyclist to fight the powers and say no to compulsory helmet wearing.

KTRIC

Dr Turk Turkelton wrote: »

You mustn't frequent the cycling forum.
Apperantly the human skull is the hardest object known to man and nothing can break it so it is mandatory as a cyclist to fight the powers and say no to compulsory helmet wearing.

Everyone knows moped drivers and cyclists have the hardest skulls of the Homo genus. Also the ground beneath them is softer for some reason !! :rolleyes:

DubVelo

Yeah but apparently you go both blind and deaf the instant you pull a helmet on!

No Pants

Dr Turk Turkelton wrote: »

You mustn't frequent the cycling forum.
Apperantly the human skull is the hardest object known to man and nothing can break it so it is mandatory as a cyclist to fight the powers and say no to compulsory helmet wearing.

Funny, I haven't seen that argument made over there. Most of the criticism is related to cycling helmets not being designed to cope with an impact at any kind of speed, which makes them of dubious value. In fact there are studies that show how a cycling helmet can even exacerbate injury.

Guy:Incognito

No Pants wrote: »

Funny, I haven't seen that argument made over there. Most of the criticism is related to cycling helmets not being designed to cope with an impact at any kind of speed, which makes them of dubious value. In fact there are studies that show how a cycling helmet can even exacerbate injury.

Why don't people just wear motorbike helmets so?

No Pants

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Why don't people just wear motorbike helmets so?

No idea really bar the following; weight, comfort, expense and usability.

conzy

I have a helmet in the back of the car since a track day I did. Always tempted to throw it on in town just to see the reactions

Pov06

conzy wrote: »

I have a helmet in the back of the car since a track day I did. Always tempted to throw it on in town just to see the reactions

Off ye go so, report back with the consequences, if any

DubVelo

No Pants wrote: »

No idea really bar the following; weight, comfort, expense and usability.

Your head would boil, you'd probably pass out from heatstroke and crash.

No Pants

ironclaw wrote: »

Your spatial awareness will be severely affected though so I'd consider it pretty unsafe on an open public road.

Proper use of mirrors should offset some of that I would have thought.

gctest50

KTRIC wrote: »

There are car specific helmets available, have a look here http://simpsonraceproducts.com/
....

They might be a bit much - pic of "tidier" one attached - no peripheral vision problems and you can still use your phone - oh wait....

No Pants

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Motorcyclists can die from a small accident if they bump their heads. Its a trade off.

We can all die from small bumps to the head if we're unlucky. You're right, it is very much a trade off.

MadYaker

You going robbing a bank OP?

Pov06

MadYaker wrote: »

You going robbing a bank OP?

In a 1.0 Yaris? I'd be safer cycling and I wouldn't need to ask :P

creedp

KTRIC wrote: »

Everyone knows moped drivers and cyclists have the hardest skulls of the Homo genus. Also the ground beneath them is softer for some reason !! :rolleyes:

Oh so that's why there not needed when using the Dublin Bike Scheme

h3000

I'm pretty sure rally drivers have to take of their helmets when driving between stages. Not sure is it just a rally regulation or a motoring law though.

fernandoper

I think its legal but dangerous .. You wanna drive with a helmet??

Joe 90

Years ago it was pretty common to see truck chassis being driven by delivery drivers wearing a helmet. I mean a truck chassis, not a chassis and cab. I assume that they were being delivered to whoever built th cab and possibly the rest of the bodywork

galwaytt

Joe 90 wrote: »

Years ago it was pretty common to see truck chassis being driven by delivery drivers wearing a helmet. I mean a truck chassis, not a chassis and cab. I assume that they were being delivered to whoever built th cab and possibly the rest of the bodywork

Indeed: some places still do............but without the helmet !!

http://www.sephi.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/trucks_in_india.jpg

with helmet:

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss309/moomooland01/jakartabus.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m288/walsden/BusChassis.jpg

knipex

Drove a Westfield for a while without a screen and all ways wore a helmet.. even with the screen on I often wore the helmet on particularly cold or wet January mornings. .

mb1725

If you wore a helmet one of these boys might have a problem taking your mugshot though: