The push to allow motorcyclists to ride helmet-free in Tennessee has been set aside for another year. The proposal would have ended the requirement that adults must wear helmets to ride, but it was idled today in a state House committee.
Cyclist argue that when states make motorcycle helmets optional, they make money from the influx of motorcycle enthusiasts who want to ride free.
State Representative Judd Matheny, a Coffee County Republican, has tried to get that bill passed for years. But he took it off the table today, saying the message is just too difficult to get across in what’s left of this year’s legislative session.
“We are gonna work more on refining our message about the positive economic impact. At the same time we want to try to continue to work on ways to make sure that the taxpayer and the state are protected against uninsured individuals that are hurt in accidents.”
The opposing argument is that without helmets, more riders are hurt in accidents, particularly with head injuries.
Matheny says one possibility is to require helmet-less riders to carry major medical insurance.
Source: Nashville Public Radio
March 3, 2012- -
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