COMMITTEE
HCS HB 1618 & 953 -- MOTORCYCLE SAFETY
SPONSOR: Thomason
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Motor
Vehicle and Traffic Regulations by a vote of 14 to 0.
This substitute requires that motorcyclists under 21 years of
age and every person operating a motorcycle or motortricycle
which has a passenger who is under 21 years of age wear
protective headgear. Currently all motorcyclists are required
to wear protective headgear.
This substitute also repeals the sunset provision on the
motorcycle safety education program.
FISCAL NOTE: Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund is $0
in FY 1999, $29,155 in FY 2000, and $35,000 in FY 2001.
Estimated Net Cost to Motorcycle Trust Fund is $0 in FY 1999,
$2,499 in FY 2000, and $3,000 in FY 2001.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this is an issue of freedom to
choose one's own means of safety.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Williams (121) for
HB 1618; Representatives Lograsso and Ridgeway for HB 953;
Freedom of Road Riders; and many individuals standing in support.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that statistics show
that helmets protect heads. Motorcyclists are 16 times more
likely to die in a crash than is an automobile occupant. Head
injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. An
unhelmeted motorcyclist is 40 percent more likely to incur a
fatal head injury and 15 percent more likely incur a non-fatal
head injury than a helmeted motorcyclist when involved in a
crash.
Testifying against the bill were Don Koening, Florissant; North
County Neurosurgery Incorporated; Brain Injury Association of
Missouri; Nancy Cartney; Missouri Safety Council; and Missouri
Advocacy For Traffic Safety.
Robert Triplett, Legislative Analyst