Motorcycle helmet debate rides into Nebraska

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Motorcycle helmet debate rides into Nebraska
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Written by Digits

The battle between motorcycle safety and the perceived rights of riders is coming to a head in the state of Nebraska and politicians consider a bill amending its mandatory helmet law.
Bill LB 52 would allow for riders over 21 years of age to choose whether they wear helmets while operating a motorcycle.
The arguments of helmets limiting a rider’s ability to see and hear are being used throughout the latest version of the oldest two-wheeled debate. A new wrinkle though comes courtesy of the latest political leanings as proponents of the bill look to the constitution for its argument.
A bill currently under review in Nebraska would lift a law requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets. It would only require helmets for those under 21 years-of-age.
"For me," said the bill's introducer, Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, "this is about the 14th Amendment."
Constitution aside, opponents argue helmets are now being designed to allow wearers to see and hear more than before, and are necessary to safeguard the rider. Looking to statistics, opponents claim motorcycles make up only 3 percent of all vehicles on the road, but bikers are 13 percent of all crash fatalities.
Supporters and opponents of repealing Nebraska's 22-year motorcycle helmet law gathered at the State’s Capitol earlier this week for the public forum to discuss the bill in front of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.
Proponents of the bill are asking politicians to consider financial implications of allowing riders the choice over motorcycle helmets. They claim motorcyclists travel hundreds of miles around Nebraska so they don't have to wear a helmet in neighboring states on their trips. Those trips would include riders making their way to the hugely popular Sturgis, S.D., annual motorcycle rally.
Miller said there also are financial losses in keeping the law. The state loses tourism dollars from riders who would come to events in the state, or pass through it on their way to
But financial figures are being are being cited by opponents of the bill as well.
”I would strongly urge each senator to look at what they are doing when they try to repeal a law that saves lives and money,” Dr. Joseph Stothert , director of trauma and surgical critical care at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and medical director of trauma for the state said at the hearing.
Speaking as a private citizen, Stothert brought along statistics from one of the state's major trauma centers and the state trauma registry regarding 258 motorcyclists injured and cared for at the medical center between 2001-10.
Of those patients, 80 percent of the Nebraskans wore helmets and 36 percent of Iowans. Iowa law does not require helmets. Nineteen percent of patients with helmets and 26 percent without helmets had severe brain injuries. Twenty-two percent of patients with helmets and 35 percent without helmets had neck fractures.
The financial costs in Stothert’s view; Hospital charges totaled more than $13 million. Eighteen percent of the bills were paid by Medicaid.
If these arguments sound familiar to the residents and riders of Nebraska, blame it on the latest bill riding a familiar legislative road. Last year, a similar bill did not get enough votes to overcome a filibuster.