Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site water.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!watnot!water!watbun!kgdykes
From: kgdykes@watbun.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cycle,net.auto,net.politics
Subject: more fire fodder
Message-ID: <484@water.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Jul-86 03:55:16 EDT
Article-I.D.: water.484
Posted: Wed Jul 30 03:55:16 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 30-Jul-86 06:52:17 EDT
Sender: daemon@water.UUCP
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 37
Xref: watmath net.cycle:1870 net.auto:11958 net.politics:17833


The repeal of mandatory helmet legislation in 32 states since 1976
has been a postive move that has been instrumental in the reduction
of motorcyclist fatalities.
  The State Police of Maryland reported that within the first 6 months
of repeal, motorcyclist fatalities decreased by 30%. the State
of Rhode Island reported a 166.7% increase in fatalities in 1971
when their helmet regulation was in effect but a 40% reduction in
fatalities in 1979 when such regulation had been repealed.
  Such reports of reduced fatalities following repeal are not unusual.
New York and New Jersey have maintained the helmet regulation and
fatalities in NJ have increased 349% since the implementation
of its helmet regulations.  Last year helmet-related fatalities
increased 41% in New York.
  The 1980 Nat'nl Highway Traffic Safety Administration report on
morotcycle helmets claiming increased fatalities has disregarded these
facts.  The report is based primarily on projections and incomplete
statistics and is limited to only 4 states with information
predominantly current to 1978.
  Morotcycle helmets are a cosmetic device that do not prevent
accidents but do aggravate injuries.  The State of Kansas Health &
Environment Dept. noted in 1979 that no concrete evidence could be found
to support the concept that any increase in motorcyclist fatalities had
resulted from the repeal of helmet regulations.
  Helmets are an unnatural weight upon the head of the rider and radically
increase cranial temperatures.  Helmets severly restrict peripheral
vision and significantly reduce hearing.  No helmet, regardless of cost
or design, is capable of rejecting impact stresses above 13 mph, as Federal
Dept. of Transportation testing has evidenced, and in lateral skids,
helmets deteriorate at 2.5mph.
   -David S. Mangeim
    Executive Director
    New York Motorcycle Coalition 1983

--
  - Ken Dykes
    {ihnp4,decvax,allegra}!watmath!watbun!kgdykes