Seat Belts VS Helmets Interview
Good Question: Seat Belt Law But Why No Helmet Law?
ReportingThere was until the late-1970s, when Minnesota's mandatory helmet law was repealed. Since that time, new laws have been proposed, but they've never succeeded.
"We lobby all the time," said Todd Riba, legislative director for the Minnesota chapter of American Bikers for Awareness, Training and Education.
Riba said he and his group lobbied against the mandatory seat belt law when Minnesota put that into effect in 1986.
"It's the same principle, freedom of choice," he said.
But when motorcyclists were fighting that law, he said that motorists were not there fighting.
"I think, like most people, they're not involved. They say my voice and my vote doesn't count. But they're wrong," said Riba.
There are other factors at play. As Riba points out, seat belts in cars are part of a crash restraint system including a collapsible steering wheel, air bags and other safety features inside a car.
"Motorcyclists don't have that crash system," he said.
A helmet is not an exact parallel to a seat belt.
Also, the sheer number of drivers makes it easier for seat belt advocates to make their case. The National Safety Council estimates that 60 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths are people who were not wearing seat belts. They estimate that in Minnesota, 200 lives will be saved annually because of increased seat belt use because of the primary seat belt law.
In a typical Minnesota year, around 50 people die in motorcycle crashes. In total. No one can say for certain how many would be saved with helmets.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, helmets "are 29-35 percent effective at preventing motorcycling deaths and substantially more effective against deaths from brain injury."
"If everybody wants motorcyclists to wear helmets, perhaps we all should," said Riba.
According to Riba, motorcycles make up 6 percent of the national traumatic brain injuries while bicycles are 7 percent, pedestrians are 13 percent, occupants of enclosed motor vehicles are 62 percent.
Money is also a motivator to legislators who passed the primary seat belt law. The federal government is giving Minnesota $3.4 million of new money for highways, as a condition of passing the primary belt law.
But the largest factor may be the organization, passion and strength of the motorcyclists themselves.
"I want to make a choice, I don't want to wear a helmet," said Riba. "One of the things Gov. Pawlenty told us: you gotta keep showing up. If you don't, the goofballs will."