TRAFFIC SAFETY
TRAFFIC SAFETY
Seat belt law good, but helmet law needed
By Stuart H. Henderson
The enactment of the S.C. seat belt law is long overdue, and it will hopefully
be enforced in the days ahead. However, one can't help but be puzzled by some
rather blatant inconsistencies in safety requirements.
First of all, why is there no requirement of a helmet to those operating
motorcycles in South Carolina? Falling from a moving motorcycle and hitting an
unprotected head on concrete or asphalt often does some serious damage to what
is inside the skull.
A good friend and co-worker of our son was seriously injured three years ago
when his motorcycle accidentally skidded on wet pavement up in New Hampshire.
Had he been wearing a helmet he would not currently be in a nursing home,
unable to communicate, feed himself or perform any other normal functions for
the rest of his life.
And several years ago a man riding a motorcycle without a helmet skidded off
the road in Little River and died immediately.
The opponents of such legislation might argue that it is their life and their
responsibility, but far too often when accidents do occur the health care
costs are absorbed by the hospitals and general taxpayers through the ever
increasing medical costs to us all.
The same opponents might argue that the wearing of a helmet lessens their
ability to hear automobile horns, etc. while operating their motorcycle. That
argument opens up another inconsistency in requiring automobiles to have
adequate mufflers for noise suppression, but there is no similar requirement
for motorcycles.
There are many other states which require the wearing of helmets by those
operating motorcycles and it is inconceivable why S.C. legislators don't have
the common sense and backbone to enact such legislation.
Why is it that children riding in school buses are not required to wear seat
belts? Perhaps it is the cost, but tell that to the parents of children who
have been seriously injured or killed in school bus accidents over the years.
My hope is that those legislators in Columbia might give some serious thought
to their rationale in the enactment of the new seat belt law and apply the
same common sense and reason in drawing up similar legislation regarding
helmets as well as school bus seat belts.
Seat belt law good, but helmet law needed
By Stuart H. Henderson
The enactment of the S.C. seat belt law is long overdue, and it will hopefully
be enforced in the days ahead. However, one can't help but be puzzled by some
rather blatant inconsistencies in safety requirements.
First of all, why is there no requirement of a helmet to those operating
motorcycles in South Carolina? Falling from a moving motorcycle and hitting an
unprotected head on concrete or asphalt often does some serious damage to what
is inside the skull.
A good friend and co-worker of our son was seriously injured three years ago
when his motorcycle accidentally skidded on wet pavement up in New Hampshire.
Had he been wearing a helmet he would not currently be in a nursing home,
unable to communicate, feed himself or perform any other normal functions for
the rest of his life.
And several years ago a man riding a motorcycle without a helmet skidded off
the road in Little River and died immediately.
The opponents of such legislation might argue that it is their life and their
responsibility, but far too often when accidents do occur the health care
costs are absorbed by the hospitals and general taxpayers through the ever
increasing medical costs to us all.
The same opponents might argue that the wearing of a helmet lessens their
ability to hear automobile horns, etc. while operating their motorcycle. That
argument opens up another inconsistency in requiring automobiles to have
adequate mufflers for noise suppression, but there is no similar requirement
for motorcycles.
There are many other states which require the wearing of helmets by those
operating motorcycles and it is inconceivable why S.C. legislators don't have
the common sense and backbone to enact such legislation.
Why is it that children riding in school buses are not required to wear seat
belts? Perhaps it is the cost, but tell that to the parents of children who
have been seriously injured or killed in school bus accidents over the years.
My hope is that those legislators in Columbia might give some serious thought
to their rationale in the enactment of the new seat belt law and apply the
same common sense and reason in drawing up similar legislation regarding
helmets as well as school bus seat belts.
posted by Motortoyshop @ 4:36 PM
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