Open face helmets

[Nachodaddy]

Not a chance I would ride without a full helmet and full gear.

I see people all the times on bikes- a jacket, jeans- but no gloves, sneakers, 1/2 bucket cap excuse for a helmet... dummies.

My father in law rides in t-shirt, shorts and flip flops. Always says- If I crash I just want to die.

I respond- but what if you don't?

Dubs, you are absolutely right, and that is the point of the helmet laws. When the helmet laws were made, enough bare-headed riders were ending up in the ICU running up massive hospital bills which the taxpayers ended up paying, that the states decided to try to limit that cost by requiring helmets. It wasn't concern for the rider or his/her passenger, it was primarily financial.
And then there's the dark joke that the helmet helps identify the body.