|
Statement for Attribution to Lt. Colonel Jim Champagne, Chair
of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)
Washington, DC- I am deeply disturbed by the serious increase
in motorcycle fatalities. Last week, the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) projected that 2004 represented the
seventh straight year of increases in this area. NHTSA's preliminary
estimate is that 3,927 motorcyclists died in 2004. This is a 7.3
percent rise since 2003 and an 85 percent rise since 1997. Motorcycle
fatalities have increased from 5 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities
in 1997 to a projected 9 percent in 2004.
Why is this happening? In large part, the lack of motorcycle
helmet laws in states is the culprit. Currently, only 20 states
and the District of Columbia have a helmet law that applies to
all riders. Given the serious trends in motorcycle fatalities,
one would think additional states would be mulling enactment of
new laws. The reality is that some of the 20 states are actually
considering repealing their laws. As chair of GHSA, I have taken
action, as the situation is too serious to ignore. Recently, I've
testified in Virginia urging that state retain its law. At the
request of safety advocates, I have also contacted governors and
legislators in Michigan, West Virginia and Maryland urging they
reject attempts to repeal their laws. I am also working with advocates
in Nebraska to help them defend their law.
I feel so strongly about this issue because I have seen the impact
of a motorcycle helmet law in my state of Louisiana. In 1999, Louisiana
abolished its universal helmet law. This led to a terrible spike
in the death of motorcyclists. In 1998, the year before the law's
repeal, we achieved nearly 100 percent helmet usage and experienced
35 motorcycle fatalities. By 2003, the law's repeal had reduced
helmet use to 35 percent and fatalities had spiked to 83---a 137
percent increase.
Fortunately, in 2004, Louisiana's universal motorcycle helmet
law was reinstated. We are the only state in the country to have
enacted this law in the last decade-a shocking statistic given
fatality trends.
As I travel the country, I am often told that a helmet law is
an infringement on a person's freedom of choice. The problem with
this argument is that one's freedom of choice should not negatively
affect the rest of society. A recent study from the Medical Center
of Louisiana in New Orleans (a Level 1 Trauma Center) showed that
91.8 percent of people admitted after unhelmeted motorcycle collisions
did not have any health insurance. We all pay their medical bills.
Whether everyone likes it or not, we legislate highway safety
in all states. We pass laws to protect people who are unable or
unwilling to protect themselves. Public access highways are built
and maintained by the government to provide people with the freedom
to travel. It is not a right to operate a vehicle on these roads,
but rather, it is a privilege. It is a privilege earned after reaching
a certain age, passing a driving test and gaining a license. In
order to maintain this privilege, one is required to obey the common
sense laws and those should include a universal motorcycle helmet
law.
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. I encourage all states
to use this occasion to highlight the need to reverse the sobering
fatality trends surrounding motorcycle fatalities.
###
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is the nonprofit
association representing the highway safety agencies of states,
territories, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Indian
Nation. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer
federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway
safety plans. For more information, contact GHSA at (202) 789-0942
or visit www.ghsa.org. |
Print
this Story