Texas bikers' freedom to ride the open road without a helmet has resulted in a sharp increase in deadly crashes, according to a new study. The study, published in the January edition of Southern Medical Journal, found that in the seven years after Texas repealed its mandatory motorcycle helmet law in 1997, fatality rates per vehicle miles traveled increased by roughly 25 percent. “This study show that it's bad public policy to repeal mandatory motorcycle helmet laws,” said Al Bavon, a professor in the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and co-author of the study. “Motorcyclists not wearing helmets are having an adverse effect on highway safety in Texas.” The trend has continued in recent years not covered by the study, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Texas was one of the first states to change its mandatory helmet law, after the federal government ended a long-standing policy of reducing transportation funding for states without such a law.

In 1997, Texas began requiring only motorcyclists under 21 to use a helmet. Only 20 states and the District of Columbia currently require all motorcyclists to wear a helmet. The chairman of the Texas Motorcycle Rights Associa­-tion dismissed the study, pointing to TxDOT preliminary 2009 numbers that show a decrease in fatalities. He predicted a new law requiring new riders to take a motorcycle safety course will further reduce deadly crashes. “Helmets don't save lives if there's an accident,” said the chairman, who goes by the name of Sputnik. “The key is to prevent accidents, which is achieved through better training of riders and drivers.” Gonzalo Ponce, program manager of TxDOT's traffic safety section, attributed the apparent modest decline in 2009 to a drop in ridership as a result of the economic downturn. From 2004 to 2008, motorcycle fatalities rose about 32 percent, to 529, according to TxDOT. The Southern Medical Journal study looked at Texas data on motorcycle fatalities from 1994 to 2004 to analyze trends before and after the change in helmet laws.

A month-by-month breakdown showed a “sudden upward trend” in deadly motorcycle accidents in September 1997, the same month the helmet laws changed.motorcycle parts anodising That study found that, following the law's implementation, overall motorcycle deaths increased by 30 percent, although that number partly reflects an increase in ridership. motorcycle shop in roselleIt found deaths per registered motorcycles increased by 15.2 percent.motorcycle tires for honda vtx 1300 Helmet use decreased from 77 percent in 1996 to 63 percent in 1997, then to 36 percent in 1998 and thereafter.scooter rental nj road test

A TxDOT official said the study provides ample evidence that Texas should change its law but wasn't optimistic it will have that effect.motorcycle repair worcester park “Every session there are stirrings about reinstating the mandatory helmet law but they never go anywhere,” said Carol Rawson, interim director of TxDOT's traffic operations division. motorcycle oil filter relocation kit“The anti-helmet folks are just a strong lobby.”motorcycle shops in naga cityYOU ARE HERE: LAT HomeCollectionsCalifornia -- Laws Orange County law enforcement officers will start pulling over motorcycle riders today if they are caught violating the state's new helmet law, which went into effect at midnight.

But whether riders get a ticket or just a warning will depend on which agency stops them.In Costa Mesa, officers will issue written or verbal warnings to helmetless riders over the next two weeks, Police Lt. Alan Kent said."This law will put the folks on notice to get helmets or answer to a judge in a court of law," Kent said.The Orange County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Police Department also will hold off meting out citations for up to 90 days.In Newport Beach, however, there will be no grace period."We want to save lives as quickly as possible, so we are going to enforce (beginning Jan. 1)," Sgt. Andy Gonis said. "Being a beach community, we still get a lot of riders without helmets, so we are going to be issuing citations when appropriate."The California Highway Patrol initially planned to observe a grace period, but officials now say that the agency will crack down right away."We believe that the law has the potential to prevent great human tragedy and we will begin enforcing it at one minute after midnight," CHP spokeswoman Alice Huffaker said.

The mandatory helmet law requires motorcyclists to strap on proper headgear when riding or face fines of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $250 for a third. Citations will not be considered moving violations that would result in points being accumulated toward suspension of the rider's license.A legal effort to delay enforcement of the law was denied by the 4th District Court of Appeal about 12 hours before the helmet requirement was to take effect. On Feb. 26, however, a judge will consider arguments in a suit to overturn the law.Motorcyclists fighting for the right to choose to wear a helmet contend that the law abridges their freedoms of expression and religion, and discriminates against those with a medical handicap that precludes them from wearing a helmet.Authorities agree that the trend among motorcyclists has been toward wearing helmets and that the law will encourage those many riders who ride with their heads exposed on short jaunts to protect themselves."If you don't give leniency, then some lives could be saved," Santa Ana Police Lt. Felix Osuna said.

"Coming into work this morning, I saw four or five cyclists and most are wearing helmets. You don't see helmets strapped to the sides of bikes anymore and I think it is because of the law."Proponents of the law cite CHP statistics showing that of the 19,148 motorcyclists injured or killed in accidents during 1990, those without helmets suffered head injuries at twice the rate of those who wore helmets, and six times as many not wearing helmets died of their injuries.CHP officials also cite studies that they say invalidate the arguments of helmet law opponents who contend that a rider's vision and hearing can be hampered by helmets.A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that approved helmets limit peripheral vision by 3%, thus allowing for a 210-degree field of vision. And a University of Utah study concluded that bareheaded riders are at no advantage for hearing horns and sirens over helmeted riders.Kent said the only helmets that hamper hearing and vision are those that are not properly fitted."