AIKEN --- An increasing number of motorcycle fatalities on South Carolina highways has law enforcement officials urging motorists to be aware of their surroundings.
"One thing they can do as far as motorcycles and vehicles is now that the summer is here, better weather, people need to be more aware of their surroundings when they change lanes, make sure they clear their blind spots," said Lance Cpl. Scot Edgeworth of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. He also said people on motorcycles need to wear proper protective equipment.
Although motorcyclists older than 21 in South Carolina are not required to wear a helmet, law enforcement and state Highway Department officials recommend the device.
"The helmet is going to protect your head and help you eliminate more injury if you are in a collision," Lance Cpl. Edgeworth said.
A Highway Department assessment in May 2007 recommended passage of a state helmet law for all riders, regardless of age. Ed Harmon, a planning and evaluation manager for the Highway Department and a member of the motorcycle task force, said it's not clear whether the task force, composed of a number of agencies and organizations, will support that recommendation.
"There are a number of (motorcycle) advocacy groups who do lobby against the passage of such a law," he said. "As I understand it, the advocacy groups do support the use of protective equipment, but they are adamantly against a law that requires the use of a helmet."
In 2007, of the 121 motorcyclists killed in South Carolina, 92 were not wearing a helmet.
Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.
MOTORCYCLE FATALITIES
| GEORGIA | SOUTH CAROLINA | |||
| DEATHS | NO HELMET | DEATHS | NO HELMET | |
| 2005 | 144 | 10.4% | 106 | 75% |
| 2006 | 154 | 14.4% | 109 | 74.3% |
| 2007 | not available | 121 | 76% | |
Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and South Carolina Department of Public Safety
Comments
I'm all for wearing a helmet but that chart doesn't prove that wearing a helmet saves lives. It shows that more people died in Ga with a helmet on than ones in SC without one. I wonder how many accidents there were and how many survived without a helmet on.
I've been riding over 40 years & yes I reccomend wearing a helmet but I agree with SC if you decide to not wear a helmet, it should be your choice. The 21 year old law ..a good one. But we should not have a law to force someone to protect themselves. Personal decisions should remain personal ! It's your life & should be your right to risk it, if you choose.
Just make sure you have the means to provide life-long care after the accident without assistance from taxpayers. T
Just make sure you have the means to provide life-long care after the accident without assistance from taxpayers. That leaves everyone in the clear.
Put some mufflers on your bike so you can be neighbor friendly and actually hear what is going on around you.
The advantage of the current SC helmet law is that it helps cull the stupid people out of the gene pool.
The limited vision is a major problem, as well, with a helmet on. In fact, that is our #1 complaint. It's very difficult to see out the sides of a helmet.
Yep, it's hard to hear and see with a helmet, but that sucker sure comes in handy when the idiot ahead of you does that sudden lane change and your head hits the asphalt at 60 mph....btw, the chart actually does show that of the 144 deaths in GA in '05, 14 of them weren't wearing a helmet while of the 106 deaths in SC, 79 of them weren't wearing a helmet. Therefore, no helmet = much higher fatality statistics.
namasta, that is limited vision is NOT an issue with a helmet, nor is being able to hear. I have ridden for 35 years, always with a full coverage helmet and ear plugs. The opening in the helmet provides more than adequate visibility and the helmet and ear plugs actually make it easier to hear compared to the buffeting from the wind without one. As long as we are on the subject, loud pipe lose right. They don't save lives.
The only purpose for the loud pipes is compensation. The louder the bike, the smaller the manhood.
having a helmet may save your life but what about the people in vehicles that dont respect bikes the ones who pull out in front of you and try to get in your lane like you are not there
nastyrone, that's all the more reason to wear the helmet. I ride a bike as well, and nothing can replace paying attention and being a defensive driver....a trait that can serve you well in any vehicle. You should drive with the assumption that every vehicle on the road is going to try to kill you.
Ok, I corrected AC's mistake on not seperating paragraphs, which I did when I posted that...now I know why you all post 3-4 posts, one after another here.
Even with pipes, you can't hear jack.
OMG! LOL synergy...twice, no less.
The 2nd, sad but true.
too bad the dead don't have a say on this forum!
oh btw a helmet saved my life 20 years ago.. I am still alive to say that one sentence.
Helmet saved one of my relative's lives. He went on to earn two degrees after coming out of the coma and the reconstructive surgery. He would have been dead without the helmet. Over two decades ago. Hey, do I know you 211lover?
Oh, I forgot, you have three kids and you and your wife both work, so no, I guess I don't know you, my relative is so far a bachelor.
One thing I am not seeing discussed is how many riders died wearing a helmet. Why is there no discusion about this? how about a law requiring a suit of armour. How about this, just ban Motorcycles completly and make everyone drive tanks. What this boils down to is that it's my buisness if I wear a helmet or not, stay out of it. I never understand a state law that forces a helmet but says nothing of using a cell phone and driving.
Wait, I am looking at this again, and, am I correct here? Goergia has a helmet law, 2006 had 154 deaths, 14.4% not wearing a helmet. This means 85.6% of the deaths in Ga. are wearing a helmet. 45 more people were killed in Ga. than in SC. How can anyone argue about helmets when 85.6% of Ga. deaths are with a helmet and 74.3% of SC deaths are without.
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