Ron Adair

Who wears a helmet when they're driving on public roads?

Today, I'm engaged in some spirited (yet controlled) driving on the back roads of Santa Barbara County when some guy comes the other way around a corner in a tricked out yellow Boxster wearing a matching helmet.

What in the world?!!!

I've never seen such a thing.

If this guy was driving on a public road as though he needed a (explitive deleted) helmet, what a (explitive deleted) irresponsible moron.

Am I missing something?

Comments please.

Rick Sylvestri

If ya have the need for speed "Hit the Freaken Track"
That's all I'm gonna say about that.

jimwood

What a moron.

ceboyd

maybe he was cold?

Marc in AK

There are some who have had recent surgery or previous head injuries that wear helmets to avoid further damage.................................there is a neurologist here who wears one all the time while driving, because he is weird and has taken care of multiple head injured patients...............................


but your guy is probably a poser......

Paulsha911

I think it is illegal to drive with a helmet on public roads...

jnx

I would think living in California, You are liable to see just about anything.

TomF

That guy should take it to the track!

pcar964

I can't imagine it being illegal - you're not allowed to take extra safety precautions if you want to?

That said, helmet boy was probably just posing. The matching color tells you all you need to know...

ceboyd

I used to think that but it actually varies from state-to-state


...In Michigan, for example, it is 100% legal..


I know someone with a spyder replica (no top) so he wore his helmet on the way to the track because it was only 45 degrees in the AM and cleared it with the state police department first before attempting it (and he kept his head warm en-route)

Coleman

I had a friend who was a car nut from prep school. We used to dream about euro cars as teenagers.. I think we both had the obligatory 930 poster on our walls.. his dad had a Ferrari Boxer, and Ned would wax on poetic about the various virtues of this vehicle.. later on in college, Ned bought a 914 and began the mod process with this able Porsche.. He spent many weekends replacing suspension parts and drive-train.. I think when he had finished it it was close to a 914-6. One evening fueled on testosterone and beer, ned and his friend decide to rip up some canyons in colorado- they knew that there was going to be speed and stupidity involved so they put on bike helmets, as that was all they had.. So two drunk 21year olds with a modded 914 brandishing bike helmets proceed to tear up the roads and then flip the car (which had no roof..) . they both landed quite literally on their heads and the car slid off the road into a culvert of some kind.. they got out all giggles and high-fives and hitchhiked home... they had both bashed their heads on the tarmac and stumbled away drunk.. he showed me the helmet and it was indeed smacked pretty hard.. I guess the moral of the story is that open top cars, booze and helmets DO mix!! (kinda)

Coleman

Mark in Baltimore

Most states won't even allow you to run 5 or 6 point racing harnesses on the street, which is ludicrous.

ceboyd

I found a little bit of a loophole for that one... if you happen to be able to STILL wear the regular 3-point OVER the 5 or 6-point, they can't say squat 'cause you have the factory seatbelt on too... (I have my car set up to take both but feel safer in the 6-point so I just buckle the 3-point OVER it all and no worries en-route to the track)

Ron Adair

What I really think about "Helmet Boy" (courtesy pcar964) is that he's selfish and dangerous.

What if Helmet Boy, encouraged by his fast car and head protection, loses it around a corner and crashes head on into Mom and The Kids?

Mom and The Kids weren't wearing helmets.

Mom didn't realise that this day was racer's day on the road.

It's difficult enough for most of us to drive responsibly in our fast cars without the added octane of donning a track helmet for a weekend drive in the countryside.

What I saw was genuinely disconcerting... it was like Helmet Boy was prepared for a collision he intended to survive.

ceboyd

so I guess it was NOT cold out that day to warrant a helmet for warmth?