Motorcyle helmets: The debate continues
Tyson Guthrie, 27 of Elburn, Illinois aways wears a helmet when he's riding his motorcycle. For him it's playing it safe.
However, motorcyclists across the state disagree. Illinois is only one of three states that do not have any laws about wearing helmets on a motorcyle. Iowa and New Hampshire are the other two states. Twenty-six states have helmet laws restricting the wearing of helmets to young or new riders. Twenty one states require helmets all the time.
Two fatal motorcycle accidents were reported since Memorial day weekend, fueling debate
for mandatory helmet laws.
Michael Smith 40, of St. Charles, IL was killed when his motorcycle crashed in Campton Hills. HIs wife survived the accident. According to witnesses, neither rider was wearing a helmet. It is unclear if helmet would have saved Smith's life. Authorities are still investigating the accident.
On May 23, Wade and Denise Thomas of St. Charles, IL were both killed in a motorcyle accident on Route 47 just outside of Elburn.
Several other bikes were involved in the crash which is currently being investigated by authorities. Lt. Pat Gengler of the Sheriff's dept said that helmets would not have saved the Thomases. However, he has seen other accidents where a helmet might have made a difference.
Biker Gary Warmowski, 29 of Elgin, believes that a helmet doesn't make you any safer. "A helmet will help you...but the porlbem is it will only save your head." He doesn't wear a helmet because he says they are confinng. "I just like the wind in my hair."
Steve Holtsford, a physician at Delnor Hospital in Geneva, IL, said "it doesn't make sense" not to wear a helmet.
"Basically, you are completely unprotected on a motorcycle and it's a vehicle that travels just as fast as a car and many times faster. Your head is obviously vulnerable to injury."
Holtsford, an emergency room doctor, has treated may crash victims. Many victims who chose not to wear helmets didn't even make it to the ER.
Wayne Laszczak the vice president of the DuKane chapter of ABATE of Illinois believes that a motorcyclist should be able to choose whether to wear a helmet. He doesn't believe it should be mandated by the state.
Laszczak has been riding a motorcyle for over 40 years. He believes that helmets don't always save your life if your are in a crash. He says that they can also obstruct your peripheral vision.
State Sen. John Milner R-Bloomingdale, IL, believes it is more effective to teach drivers to be more aware of motorcycles. He says it's a "freedom issue."
A bill was defeated this Spring that would make helmets mandatory. It failed in the Senate by 14-42. Similar legislation never made it to the floor in the house.
