Motorcycle debate hits a new gear Iowa lawmakers introduce bill to prohibit anyone younger than 6 from riding on a motorcycle and anyoneyounger than

IOWA:



http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=287075 Motorcycle debate hits a new gear Iowa lawmakers introduce bill to prohibit anyone younger than 6 from riding on a motorcycle and anyone younger than 18 from riding without a helmet. BY KARINA SCHROEDER TH STAFF WRITER << Prev 1 of 2 Next >>

Photo by: Contributed Alan Ford Iowa legislators are finding renewed determination in their proposed motorcycle age and helmet regulation bills, following a string of motorcycle-related deaths and injuries.

Rep. Doris Kelley, D-Waterloo, introduced a bill to prohibit all children younger than 6 riding on motorcycles. Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, also introduced a bill to prohibit anyone younger than 18 from riding without a helmet. The bills failed the initial legislation stages during each of the past two years.

Iowa Department of Transportation safety engineer Tom Welch is in favor of the proposed laws.

"We see so many adults riding around with children not wearing" helmets, Welch said. "Why have them exposed to that risk?"

Since 2007, at least one child younger than 14 and 17 people younger than 24 have died in motorcycle crashes in Iowa, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Welch said the proposed laws are not only about immediate safety, but are an effort to "help instill a long-term safety mind in that child. We want a safety culture.

"It's certainly not unreasonable for us to expect a child to wear a helmet on any moving vehicle."

Iowa total Iowa motorcycle fatalities

2007 -- 61 2008 -- 49 2009 -- 54 2010 (year to date) -- 13

iowa statistics for riders under 18 2007 Fatalities -- 2 Major Injuries -- 8 Minor Injuries -- 36 2008 Fatalities -- 0 Major Injuries -- 9 Minor Injuries -- 35 2009 Fatalities -- 0 Major Injuries -- 3 Minor Injuries -- 25

source: Iowa Department of Transportation

is one of just three states without motorcycle helmet laws, the others being Illinois and New Hampshire.

Rep. Steve Lukan, R-New Vienna, a member of the Public Safety Committee, said passage of the bills "would be a very challenging endeavor," due to voter pushback against both regulation and more government.

The laws involving minors "might be an area where we could find common ground as lawmakers," Lukan said, but anything involving regulation of adult riders would be a tough sell.

Iowa had a helmet law for less than a year, from Sept. 1, 1975 to July 1, 1976. The law was overturned ,and all attempts to pass similar legislation have failed.

Alan Ford, 63, of Dubuque, was injured in a motorcycle accident two years ago while not wearing a helmet. He believes there should be some safety restrictions for kids, but for adults "it should be a voluntary thing, and people should wear their helmet."

Ford broke two bones in his wrist, one bone in his elbow and one in his collarbone.

"I was lucky," Ford said. "That was one of the few times I went without my helmet."

The Iowa DOT reports there were 49 motorcycle fatalities last year and 54 in 2008. There have been 13 deaths so far this year.

"Forty-seven different states have come to the conclusion (that helmet laws are necessary)," Welch said. "I think it's time Iowa" did the same.