June 13, 2007
Letters to the Editor
The Morning Call
Box 1260
Allentown, PA 18105

To the Editor:
I am writing in response to The Morning Call's recent editorial urging that the Pennsylvania Legisature reverse the recent modifications to the State's motorcycle helmet law.

In comparing PennDOT motorcycle accident and fatality statistics from 2005 and 2006, the following is found: motorcycle registrations increased from 313,180 to 325,720; the number of licensed PA motorcycle drivers increased from 772,201 to 788,018. In spite of these increases, motorcycle fatalities dropped from 205 to 187 and motorcycle crashes dropped from 4,039 to 3,889. Meanwhile, the number of riders trained through PennDOT's Motorcycle Safety Training Program increased from 27,004 to 27,389. Regarding fatalities, of the 187 in 2006, ninety-nine of those were wearing helmets while eighty-eight were not and in four cases helmet use was not indicated.

More riders, more motorcycles and yet fewer accidents! The PA Motorcycle Safety Training Program and the Operation Save-A-Life program developed by ABATE of PA and approved by the State Department of Education for use in schools, are working. The Safety Training Program has been expanded over the last several years through additional motorcycle registration fees which motorcyclists themselves requested the legislative to pass. (In the Lehigh Valley the course is offered at Northampton Community College and at Blackman's Cycle dealership.)

Current law still requires that riders and passengers under 21, and any rider over 21 with less than two years riding experience, or who has not passed the Safety Training Program, wear a helmet. In the case of Ben Roethlisberger, your editorial correctly noted that in his accident, the fault lay with the other driver. It must also be remembered that under the law, Mr. Roethlisberger was not qualified to ride without a helmet.

Regarding the reasoning that motorcycle riders are a burden on society when injured, it should be noted that motorcyclists, just like any of our neighbors, carry health insurance to the same extent as any other group in society. We reject the idea that the choice to live a life that involves some risk should be discouraged. If that is the case, then few areas of life can be exempt, including skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, charity work in high-crime areas, most weekend and seasonal amateur sports, the use of convertible automobiles...the list could go on forever.

The recent dramatic increase in gasoline prices is bringing more people out on motorcycles. Rather than taking away the opportunity for qualified adults to decide whether they want to ride with or without a helmet, more funding and time should be spent on rider and driver education. It has proven itself and riders have demonstrated their commitment by asking to be charged to support rider education programs. The Commonwealth needs to follow that example and provide for an even larger expansion of these educational programs.

Rick Loomis
Legislative Coordinator, Lehigh Valley Chapter
Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education