In response to an article last week, the following editorial was printed in
the Chicago Tribune today. Consider it incentive to volunteer in an ABATE
of Illinois endorsed election today!

Cheryl Pearre

Let those who ride use helmets
Published September 13, 2004

Two weeks ago, early-morning motorists on the Dan Ryan Expressway witnessed
a horrible sight. A motorcycle rider trying to overtake a semitrailer truck
at perhaps 100 m.p.h. lost control, ricocheted against a concrete guardrail,
fell under the truck and was dragged a mile to his death. Given the speed
involved, 39-year-old James Sumler didn't stand a chance.

Nationwide, 3,592 people died in motorcycle crashes last year, according to
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, up 11 percent from the
year before and 70 percent from 1997. In Illinois, the death toll was 143, a
nearly 50 percent increase over the previous year.

Safety experts can't precisely account for the reasons behind the nationwide
increase, but they cite more powerful motorcycles, greater numbers of
less-experienced riders, and a gradual easing of helmet laws.

Only Illinois, along with Iowa and Colorado, requires no helmet protection
for any type of motorcyclist. All other states require helmets, if only for
some riders, such as those under 18.

Illinois does require bikers to wear eye protection or use a transparent
windshield, suggesting that legislators are more concerned about bugs in the
eyes than death or serious injury.

The Illinois General Assembly has seen fit to require seat-belt use in cars,
but legislators refuse to adopt a motorcycle helmet law, mainly because the
lobbyists who oppose mandatory helmet use are so well-organized.

Such is the power of special interests, and the weakness of politicians who
aren't willing to reduce the number of preventable deaths.

Not all motorcycle deaths can be prevented, certainly. Sumler was wearing a
helmet. But there's clear evidence that helmets do reduce the number of
fatalities.

When California passed its helmet law in 1992, motorcycle fatalities dropped
36 percent the first year.

In Oregon, deaths plunged 33 percent in the first year.

In Nebraska, it was 32 percent.

In Maryland, deaths fell 20 percent.

In Texas, 23 percent.

By contrast, when Kentucky weakened helmet laws applying to motorcycle
riders in the 1990s, it saw a 37 percent increase in fatalities per 10,000
registered motorcyclists. When Louisiana did the same, it saw a 75 percent
jump.

Motorcycle-rights activists have a favorite slogan: "Let those who ride,
decide."

Enough with that. The health-care costs of the motorcycle carnage are paid
by taxpayers and insurance ratepayers. Illinois law should require helmets.
If motorcyclists want to be reckless, let them flirt with death in a way
that isn't so costly for everyone else.

Cheryl Pearre
Legislative Coordinator
ABATE of Illinois
2403 Susan Curve
Cortland, IL 60112
815-758-0517
cheryl.il@verizon.net

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