OFF THE WIRE
http://www.ydr.com/politics/ci_18562063
Helmet law still open to debate
State representative will again push for mandatory helmets for all riders By RICK LEE Daily Record/Sunday News
Updated: 07/27/2011 11:28:58 PM EDT
Southwestern Regional Police Officer Jamie Stalcup takes a photograph at the scene of an accident in North Codorus Township at the intersection of Indian Rock Dam and Days Mill roads Wednesday. The driver of the motorcycle was killed. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - KATE PENN)
Two of three motorcycle riders who died since Sunday in crashes were not wearing helmets. And the helmet debate goes on.
As he has done since the mandatory wearing of helmets was rescinded in 2003, Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny County, once again is pushing his bill for helmets for all riders.
Along with the York County fatalities, Frankel noted there have been a large number of fatalities in his area.
Admittedly, he said he has low expectations that his bill will go anywhere.
But, he said, he brings it up every session "to promote healthy discussions" about the costs to families and taxpayers and "what they are paying for very reckless conduct."
Frankel said opponents of mandatory helmet laws, including ABATE - Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education - are a "single-issue, persistent group. And there is no serious push back from the other side of the issue."
Frankel said he has met with the National Traffic Safety Board and added that "this is a top priority for them at the federal level."
He said it may take a federal threat of withholding highway appropriation funding, similar to the attempt to lower the nation's speed limit to 55 mph in the 1970s, to force states to enact helmet laws. In the '70s, some western states who did not need the highway funding, rejected the mandate and retained higher speed limits on their highways.
Charles C. Umbenhauer, a lobbyist for the state ABATE chapter, said his organization's position is "pro choice" ... "not anti-helmet."
He said ABATE believes that riders over 21 who are trained and experienced should have the right to choose whether to wear a helmet.
He said the national bikers' rights organization does not debate that helmets "in some cases" can save lives.
"There are also cases where wearing a helmet caused serious neck injuries," he said. "I know that from the medical view that is debatable."
Umbenhauer, of Dover, who said he wears a helmet 80 percent of the time, conceded that fatalities have risen yearly "but so does registration."
He said, the percentage of fatalities for the number of registered riders has not risen.
"Every time there is a number of accidents like this, there is this knee-jerk reaction that if they had a helmet on, they would have walked away from it," he said. "It's not really true. Motorcycle accidents are always serious. There are so many injuries when you get hit by a car or run off the road."
Robert Markey, of Bob's Indian Sales and Service in Etters and the president of the White Rose Motorcycle Club, said he doesn't know if wearing helmets would have prevented any of the recent deaths.
"I rode a lot of miles and a lot of years without a helmet," he said.
Markey said he started wearing helmets when it became mandatory. He kept wearing one when it became optional.
"I think it's one of the best things," he said. "Out of my shop, we are always pushing helmets."
Markey said when someone buys a motorcycle from him, he offers a discount on a helmet.
Three fatalities, five days
York County has seen three motorcycle fatalities in the past five days.
John S. Markle, Jr., 57, of York Township was killed Wednesday morning when his motorcycle collided with a truck at Days Mill and Indian Rock Dam roads in North Codorus Township, according to Southwestern Regional Police. He was wearing a helmet.
Steven Robert Moffitt, 60, of Wellsville, died Sunday when he lost control of his motorcycle on a curve along Hillclimb Road in Codorus Township, according to state police. He was not wearing a helmet.
Eric Saylor, 37, of West Manchester Township, died Saturday night after the motorcycle he was riding crashed in North Codorus Township, Southwestern Regional Police said. He was not wearing a helmet.
Coroner: Alcohol leading cause of fatal motorcycle crashes
York County Coroner Barry Bloss said he has identified something better than helmets that will help motorcycle riders survive on the road.
Don't drink and ride.
Bloss said five of the eight fatal motorcycle crashes in the county since May involved operators who were "heavily intoxicated, more than two times the legal limit."
"We have these signs that say, 'Watch out for motorcyclists,'" Bloss said. "Well, the motorcyclists have to watch out for themselves. Most are single vehicle crashes with drunk drivers."
Bloss said his office has not seen a real increase in riders who would have survived if they had a helmet on.
"Helmet or no helmet, you usually get thrown from the motorcycle and you don't stop until you hit something," he said. "I don't think helmets would change that. Helmets or not, if your riding drunk, death is probably imminent."
