State rep pushes to return helmet law

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http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x970730326/State-rep-pushes-to-return-helmet-law State rep pushes to return helmet law

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat The Tribune-Democrat Fri Nov 19, 2010, 11:35 PM EST

— The National Transportation Safety Board this week released an updated “Most Wanted List” of safety improvements that it recommends be made to state laws.

Among them is the addition of laws that require helmets for all motorcycle riders, a measure backed by state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny. He is the lead sponsor of House Bill 1253, which would restore Pennsylvania’s helmet law.

The bill that overturned Pennsylvania’s helmet law was sponsored by state Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont.

“What we’re talking about is responsible people making responsible decisions about their own lives,” Wozniak said in 2003.

Frankel plans to reintroduce his bill in the next session of the General Assembly.

“Pennsylvania is facing a multibillion-dollar budget deficit next year because the nationwide economic recovery is not as rapid as we all would hope,” Frankel said.

“In addition to preventing the tragic, unnecessary loss of lives, restoring our helmet law would help to reduce costs for taxpayers, who ultimately pay the tab for the reckless choice not to wear a helmet.

“Private and public insurers, as well as hospitals, often provide uncompensated care for patients who have suffered traumatic and disabling injuries after failing to wear a helmet. Those costs in turn are absorbed by consumers and taxpayers,” Frankel said.

The NTSB’s statement says that from 1997 through 2008 the number of motorcycle fatalities more than doubled during a period when overall highway fatalities declined. Although the number of motorcycle fatalities fell in 2009, the 4,400 deaths still outnumber those in aviation, rail, marine and pipeline combined.

Head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Twenty states, the District of Columbia and four territories have universal helmet laws that apply to all riders.

Pennsylvania law allows motorcycle riders 21 or older to go helmetless if they have been licensed to operate a motorcycle for at least two years or have completed a motorcycle safety course approved by the state Department of Transportation or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

“The NTSB estimates that $13.2 billion was saved from 1984 to 1999 because of motorcycle helmet use,” Frankel said.