In the Sunday, Jan. 29 edition of "The Ledger," there are at least two accident-related stories — one, a multi-vehicle, incident in Gainesville with 10 fatalities; the other, a single-vehicle accident in Lakeland resulting in serious injury to the lone operator.
In the Lakeland story, the vehicle was a motorcycle, and the story made it a point to mention that the female operator was not wearing a helmet. Last time I checked, wearing a helmet while operating a motorcycle in Florida is (with a few exceptions) optional. Yet, you felt it necessary to add the fact that the operator was exercising her right to not wear a helmet — as if she were committing some heinous crime.
In the story on the tragic accident in Gainesville, there was no mention of whether or not any of the parties involved were wearing seat belts as required by law. I'm sure it's safe to assume those involved in Gainesville were not wearing helmets. Although there is no Florida law saying they cannot wear a helmet while operating a car or truck, I'm certain law-enforcement officers would have no problem if said operators should choose to wear a helmet. In other words, wearing a helmet is an option to car and truck operators — just as it is to a motorcycle operator.
For The Ledger to single out one group, and not the other, is profiling one group of vehicle operators for scrutiny, while ignoring others. But that's understandable. As a 49-year motorcycle rider, I've grown accustomed to having the news media treat us riders as if we are of a different species than the general populace.
GREG RAGER
Lakeland
http://www.theledger.com/article/20120207/EDIT02/120209508
In the story on the tragic accident in Gainesville, there was no mention of whether or not any of the parties involved were wearing seat belts as required by law. I'm sure it's safe to assume those involved in Gainesville were not wearing helmets. Although there is no Florida law saying they cannot wear a helmet while operating a car or truck, I'm certain law-enforcement officers would have no problem if said operators should choose to wear a helmet. In other words, wearing a helmet is an option to car and truck operators — just as it is to a motorcycle operator.
For The Ledger to single out one group, and not the other, is profiling one group of vehicle operators for scrutiny, while ignoring others. But that's understandable. As a 49-year motorcycle rider, I've grown accustomed to having the news media treat us riders as if we are of a different species than the general populace.
GREG RAGER
Lakeland
http://www.theledger.com/article/20120207/EDIT02/120209508
