You've been hit over the head since Monday with the name Ben Roethlisberger. Yes, he's the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Yes, the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers' first round draft pick was also first quarterback to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. I also know that right now people are still saying how idiotic it was for him to have been riding his motorcycle like he normally does -- without a helmet (which isn't against the law in Pittsburgh.)
What I'd like to talk about are car accidents. I have figured that I've been at the wheel for 4 or 5 in my life. Automobiles tend to be the most standard and safest vehicle on the road excluding NASCAR which in my mind gives them a fair risk factor. So in Martin Math (5 accidents times 1 risk factor divided by 6570 days of driving,) I can find my daily chance of getting in an accident (.0761%). Of course, I don't see myself increasing my risk factor by driving a motorcycle. Cyclists often get lost in blind spots easily, ride between cars lanes, ignore posted speed limits and sometimes use the breakdown lane as a place to show off the art of the wheelie. No wonder why they often say they aren't respected on the road by other vehicles. But even with my percentage chance of getting in an accident being that low, I probably will have another accident in my life and probably wouldn't want to go through it without the safety of a seatbelt/airbags/windshield... then again, I don't make millions of dollars a year either.
6 comments:
Martin Math. No wonder I can't figure out what my kids are learning in school these days.
Ben has said repeatedly that he's okay with not wearing a helmet. It will be interesting to hear what he says when he talks about his accident and what he'll be doing in the future.
Personally, I think anyone riding without a helmet is extremely foolish.
One of the women who reads my blog is a biker (Harley). It's a lifestyle for her, not just a mode of transporation or a weekend hobby. What's my point? I don't have one, but I agree that wearing a helmet is the only SMART way to ride a bike.
It is hard to believe that it is the law in Nevada that you have to wear a helmet, but not in Pittsburgh????
Since he has to wear a helmet on the job perhaps he prefers not to where one when on his free time. That way he can feel unrestricted, the warmth of the sun, the wind in his hair, and the force of a car windshield on his face. It's freeing.
Considering what a precious commodity his body is, he probably should have been doing more to protect it. But this might be coming from my fear of motorcycles?
Frankly, I am getting a little sick of the "Big Ben" news cycle and couldn't help but laugh when he "promised" that he would start wearing a helmet religiously.
Of course, what is even more sickening are the number of sports commentators that have chosen to comment on the issue. On ESPN.com, I think I counted 4. And that doesn't count Terry Bradshaw's comments, mostly because he rarely makes sense anyhow.
Didn't Big Ben learn ANYTHING from the Kellen Winslow II fiasco?
One other small rant - I'm betting this will allow some small-time State Assemblymen in Pennsylvania really happy because now they can sponsor the bill to have the Helmet Law changed...
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