Helmet Law Crashes In Committee
Last updated Monday, February 12, 2007 8:22 PM CST in Topics
By Doug Thompson
The Morning News
LITTLE ROCK -- A bill to require motorcyclists to wear a helmet in Arkansas stalled in a Senate committee Monday.
Senate Bill 40 by Sen. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, failed on a voice vote in the Senate Transportation, Technology and Legislative Affairs Committee.
At least two members who voted against the bill said, however, they would keep track of accident statistics and reconsider their position in the next legislative session.
"Personally, I think we made a mistake back in 1996 when we removed the requirement for a helmet," said Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle. "If we'd left that law on the books, a lot of the statistics we're talking about today would be people who were still alive."
Glover said, however, cyclists in his district heavily favored the option of riding without a helmet and added, "I have to go with my constituents."
Sen. Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro, said, "Common sense tells you you're better off with a helmet."
Opponents of the bill countered that common sense also dictates that riders in cars would be safer with helmets. Hendren said legislation to toughen the state's mandatory seat belt law would be taken up later in the session.
From 1993 to 1996, about 47 percent of motorcycle fatalities in Arkansas were riders who were not wearing helmets, up 78 percent from 1998-2001, according to Dr. Marvin Leibovich, director of the emergency medicine section of the University of Arkansas School for Medical Sciences.
Opponents said calls for a helmet requirement ignores the safety concerns of restricted vision, fatigue from heat, the lack of effective protection at regular road speeds and other problems. Also, helmets in production are designed for racing where threats such as cross-traffic at intersections are not a factor, they said.
Ultimately, adults have the right to make their own decision, opponents of the measure said.
"You could basically wear a shower cap under this law," said Rodney Roberts of Little Rock, an opponent of the bill.
"In order to have that freedom, people have to be killed," Glover said.
Opponents also said the proposal would hurt tourism.
The annual Bikes, Blues and BBQ festival in Fayetteville had an estimated economic impact of at least $31 million in 2005, according to a University of Arkansas study done that year and presented to the committee last week.
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Missy wrote on Feb 13, 2007 12:58 PM:
Stewart wrote on Feb 13, 2007 1:20 PM:
Not already registered?
Rudy wrote on Feb 13, 2007 5:27 AM: