HB 155 -- MOTORCYCLE HELMETS

SPONSOR:  Dusenberg

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Homeland Security by a vote of 7 to 0.

This bill requires only persons younger than 21 years of age to
wear protective headgear when operating or riding as a passenger
on any motorcycle or motortricycle.  Currently, all motorcyclists
are required to wear protective headgear.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill is an issue of freedom
and the right of adults to make their own choices.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Dusenberg; Freedom of
Road Riders; ABATE for Missouri; American Motorcyclist
Association; Motorcycle Riders Foundation; and Ann P. Jones.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that head injury is the
leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents.  While
appropriate protective headgear does not prevent every head
injury, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
reports that helmets are 67% effective in preventing brain
injuries and 34% effective in preventing fatalities in motorcycle
accidents.  It has been proven that helmet laws translate into
increased helmet usage which in turn saves lives and reduces head
trauma.

Testifying against the bill were Highway Safety Division,
Department of Transportation; Missouri State Medical Association;
Missouri Hospital Association; Property Casualty Insurers
Association of America; Eastern Missouri Psychiatric Society;
Missouri Motorcycle Safety Program, Missouri Safety Center;
Missouri Safety Council; and Missouri Coalition for Roadway
Safety.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:18 am