"it's a choice..." - whose? your family and friends?...

he wears a helmet on grass, but not on the road.

a few things don't sit right with ben roethlisberger's motorcycle accident.

1. pennsylvania had a mandatory helmet law, but repealed it in 2003.

you repealed a mandatory helmet law?!!! the state of pennsylvania must have had the fullest support of police, local hospitals and doctors, along with the motorcycle safety foundation.

2. he was riding a hayabusa at the time of the accident.

this is a big, heavy, very fast motorcycle capable of 190mph. ben must be one of a very select few individuals that feel it's o.k to pilot such a potent bike with no head protection.

3. "it's a choice." roethlisberger added, referring to his riding without a helmet. "i just get out there and relax, i don't try to take too many risks. i just go out and enjoy myself."

"i just get out there and relax!!!"
i think ben has just had a crash course in the realities involved with motorcycling. here's one for ya ben to chew over while you're waiting for your broken jaw to heal: while 20 % of car crashes result in injury or death, an astounding 80% of motorcycle crashes result in injury or death.

wearing a helmet whether required by law or not, is a reflection of your attitude toward riding motorcycles. you think ben and his family and friends feel the same way now he's just had a very painful demonstration of the importance of wearing a crash helmet?

riding a motorcycle is an immensely rewarding experience. successfully piloting a motorcycle is however a much more involved task than driving a car. this may come as a shock to some, but riding a motorcycle, especially a top sports bike demands constant vision and concentration. it is anything but relaxing.

i know, because i had an accident that resulted in concussion, amnesia, a dislocated hip, multiple fractures in my pelvis and back, internal bleeding, and i have spent a total of 4 years on crutches. i was riding with full protective gear, and had completed an advanced rider training course. was the accident my fault; no. could it have been avoided; absolutely yes.

sober up, ben, and take this opportunity to promote the wearing of crash helmets and personally campaign for their mandatory use in all states. you're a public figure that guys will listen to. you have a golden opportunity to do some real good with your life; actually saving some real lives. what you do off the field can have a huge impact on attitudes to motorcycling. become its champion, now you've joined the club as one if it's countless victims.

get well. heal up. forget about whose fault it was; it doesn't matter. you're the one in hospital. she got out of the car, shocked, but unscathed...a lawyer can campaign for compensation. no one can ever take away that awful sound of the huge BANG! you heard and felt, at the slow-mo moment of impact.