Can you drive a car while wearing helmet?

[Keydo]

This is in California.

I saw a young man driving an older Jeep Wrangler (with the fold down front windshield). The windshield was folded down and he was operating the Jeep while wearing a motorcycle helmet. My guess is obviously to keep the wind and bugs out of his eye and there must have been something wrong with the windshield since it was folded down.

California law requires helmets for drivers and passengers of motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, but mentions nothing about passenger vehicles.

Just curious if anyone knows if it is perfecty okay to drive a passenger vehicle with a motorcycle helmet on.

[chuckycheese]

What possible reason could there be for not allowing it?? I wouldn't do it but, if you think about it, it's not really a bad idea!

[Keydo]

That's what I'm trying to find out.

A friend mentioned that you might get cited for

27400. A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears.

But that's easily dismissed because a helmet isn't a headset covering or an ear plug.

So, again, is there anything wrong with wearing a helmet while driving a car?

You'd probably look silly, but imagine the reduction in head trauma accidents...

[chuckycheese]

That's very true! The people that insist on forcing motorcyclists to wear helmets would never dream of wearing one while they drive their cars. Head injuries account for the second leading cause of death in auto accidents (blunt trauma is first).

[aaron]

I think most of the people who want motorcyclists to wear helmets would relent if the motorcyclists installed roofs or roll bars.

[chuckycheese]

Race car drivers have both! (but still realize helmets are a very good idea). It's just a matter of degree but you can get pretty dead crashing at 65 MPH, too.

[aaron]

Fortunately, even on highways, most crashes happen at much lower speeds.

[cdwjava]

Yes, in CA you can drive a car while wearing a helmet.

- Carl