Ontario Sikhs ‘deeply disappointed’ with new helmet law

[hrmjustin]

Ron Csillag

TORONTO (RNS) The open road has closed for motorcycle-riding Sikhs in Ontario.

The province’s premier has informed Sikhs they are not exempted from motorcycle helmet laws.

In a letter this month to the Canadian Sikh Association, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne wrote that not wearing a helmet poses “a road safety risk."

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/08/26/ontario-sikhs-deeply-disappointed-new-helmet-law/

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Interesting.

I wonder if it might be possible to design a layered helmet that would accommodate the purpose of the turban, AND protect the head. Many US-DOT approved and SNELL helmets don't cover below the ears anyway (Lid-type helmet). Seems like the required thickness is present, just need to make it out of a couple other shock-absorbing and shell materials.

[cbayer]

2. That was my first thought as well.

It might look very odd, but I think it could be done.

Interestingly, there is a Sikh motorcycle club in Canada.


http://sikhmotorcycleclub.org

[AtheistCrusader]

3. The approval/certification process for making something like this is rough.

But there seems to be a market for the idea. I looked, I was surprised to see there is apparently no existing product for it, in any country.

In the US, I don't believe we have this exemption, though some individual states may have one. I'm a proponent of ATGATT, and I'm surprised this has never come up in conversation before. Might be a concentration issue. the US and Canada have approximately the same Sikh populations, 500k and 460k respectively, but Canada has just a hair over 1/10th the total population of the US.

I think someone should get on it. Make some money, save some lives. What could be better?

[cbayer]

4. Honestly, I don't think I have ever seen a sikh on a motorcycle.

I feel certain I would have noticed!

Agree that there is a great opportunity here.

Someone should jump on it.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. I haven't either. At least, not identifiably so.

But that might be a symptom of the lack of an exemption here in WA/USA.

Edit: I would never have guessed this was an issue, till this news article.

[cbayer]

7. I wouldn't have guessed it either, but the turban is really important to sikh's.

I have known only a few and have been very impressed with them as individuals. My sense is that they choose their battles and that this was one that was important to them.

[el_bryanto]

8. It is one of their five articles of faith

Well two of them really - not cutting their hair and keeping it in a turban.

Bryant

[cbayer]

9. Thanks, bryant.

I knew they had hair under there, but did not know why the turban was so important.

[cbayer]

6. Honestly, I don't think I have ever seen a sikh on a motorcycle.

I feel certain I would have noticed!

Agree that there is a great opportunity here.

Someone should jump on it.

What about putting the turban around the helmet? I wonder if that would work.



http://ilaria.veltri.tripod.com/helmets.html