- The ARC - California Edition -

Motorcycle Helmets Under Attack -- Again!!!

Since the all-rider helmet law took effect in California on January 1, 1992, the number of motorcyclist deaths and injuries has taken a significant nose dive.

In the first four years since the state imposed mandatory use of safety helmets for all motorcycle riders, over 1,200 fewer bike riders have been killed, and 35,000 fewer riders have needed medical attention. (See the tables on page 4).

Riders who don’t appreciate being told to wear a safety helmet are supporting a new legislative measure designed to essentially eliminate the requirement for protecting their skulls - and their brains - with a helmet.

This proposal is being made despite the fact that the scientific and medical communities overwhelmingly have concluded "that helmets are effective in reducing motorcycle rider head injuries and fatalities, and the medical and societal costs associated with same".

Proponents of the repeal argue that they should have the freedom to make their own choice about wearing helmets.

On February 28th of this year, a motorcyclists’ sponsored proposal was introduced as Assembly Bill 1412, and would change the requirement to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle to only apply to persons under 18 years of age.

The helmet law is not a matter of minor importance to the people residing in California. In this state, we have a little more than 13% of the nation’s population and yet over 20% of the nation’s motorcycles are licensed and ridden here.

During the original debate on the helmet issue before our legislature, the California Highway Patrol pointed out to the law makers that motorcycles in this state make up 3.2% of the total vehicles registered in California, but over the years, motorcycle crashes have resulted in 13.5% of the total deaths caused by ALL California motor vehicle crashes.

This issue of The Prevention News includes a bibliography for your further study and a list of the Assembly Transportation committee members who will be the first group to hear the bill. These are provided to stimulate readers to undertake educating their state legislature representatives about the need to retain the current motorcycle safety helmet statute.

Motorcycle safety helmets reduce brain injury. Let us keep this law in place. - Peter Leibert, Editor