Off the Wire
Biker Rights Issues
The MMA has learned through the American Motorcycle Association, that on 2 recent occasions, specific mention of a National Helmet Law was brought to the table. The MMA supports the AMA’s position that riders should be educated on the risks and should be free to choose whether or not to wear a helmet, not be mandated by legislation to do so.
The first occasion was on March 25, when Administrator David Strickland of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made comments about helmet use at a Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations hearing regarding the fiscal year 2010 Budget Request for the NHTSA. The second was on April 14, 2010, when Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) called for a federal helmet law at a U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works hearing.
Mandatory Helmet Laws were first instituted in 1966 and eventually repealed in 1975; ironically, the Federal requirement was withdrawn one year after most states finally complied with the 1966 Highway Safety Act and within 3 years, most states had repealed their complying mandatory helmet laws. The years following the repeal saw the largest growth in Motorcycle Ridership since the years prior. While one could debate whether the repeal was the actual catalyst, no one can dispute that Motorcycles instill a sense of freedom that should not be taken for granted.
The MMA’s mantra of “Education, not Legislation” espouses that riders should be given the opportunity to be properly educated on not only how to properly operate a motorcycle, but to the risks and rewards of doing so. To that end, the MMA strongly believes that adults should have the right to choose what and whether to use personal protective equipment.
The MMA fully supports the AMA’s position that all riders should contact their Senators regarding Senator Lautenberg’s comments and contact Administrator Strickland concerning his. For more information concerning the 2 events, whom to contact, and sample text, see the AMA’s website here:
http://www.capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/alert/?alertid=14936081&type=an
and here:
http://www.capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/alert/?alertid=14944311&type=co
For more Information, please see http://www.massmotorcyle.org or contact SafetyDirector@MassMotorcycle.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
