Originally Posted by Myosmith

Everyone has his/her opinion on how much protection helmets provide, but to ask if you are safer without one because the added vulnerability makes you more careful is foolish. By the same logic, you could reduce traffic fatalities by eliminating seatbelts and replacing steering wheel airbags with six inch steel spikes because then everyone would drive around at 10 mph, with the alertness of a fighter pilot in combat, and nobody would even think of tailgating.

Safety devices like seatbelts, airbags, and helmets are intended to mitigate (not eliminate) certain risks of daily life, not be a license to be less attentive or cautious. As risk increases more and better safety gear becomes appropriate. That's why a firefighter uses an oven mitt when baking cookies and full turnout gear with SCBA when entering a burning building.

I wear a helmet because I believe they are a reasonable precaution to reduce the incidence and severity of head injuries, not because they allow me to be less attentive and careful when riding. I really don't want to crash with or without a helmet. I fully realize that helmets have limited ability to mitigate head injury and do absolutely nothing for other injuries like road rash, broken wrists, etc.