THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 11, 1995 TAG: 9501110636
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
Score one for the helmet brigade.
Faced with an audience of earnest schoolchildren on a foray into politics, the City Council on Tuesday voted for a resolution to require safety helmets for bicyclists aged 14 and younger.
The 10-1 vote, which merely calls upon the General Assembly to give the city the power to make the law, came after debate about the wisdom of government enacting laws that police may find difficult to enforce.
At-large Councilman John Moss, a frequent critic of government, cast the only ``no'' vote after appeals from a pediatrician, a safety council officer and the five children who are leading the fight.
``What community problems are the responsibility of government to solve?'' Moss asked. ``Police are taxed enough without putting more of a burden on them. If our purpose is to get children to wear helmets, this is fine. But why fine parents if their children are not wearing a helmet?
``Police have better things to do than running around and giving tickets to people not wearing bicycle helmets,'' he said.
The answer, he said, is education and greater parental involvement - not more laws.
Moments later, Kempsville Borough Councilwoman Louisa M. Strayhorn spoke in defense of the students' idea, saying, ``Rather than this being an exercise in getting people to obey the law, this is one of getting people to respect life.''
Before the debate, the students from Kempsville Middle School told council members that each year about 300 children ages 14 and under are killed in bicycle-related accidents nationwide. Of these deaths, 90 percent are the result of collisions with motor vehicles, with four of five deaths resulting from head injuries.
Bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent, and the risk of brain injury by almost 90 percent, the students said, citing figures from the National Safe Kids Campaign.
Dr. Glenn C. Snyders, a pediatrician, spoke in favor of the law: ``Parents tell me that it would be easier to get their children to wear a helmet if there was a law.''
The resolution, backed by Strayhorn and Lynnhaven Borough Councilman William W. Harrison Jr., is needed first before a bill can be considered because the city is bound by the ``Dillon Rule,'' which prohibits cities from making laws that supersede the state.
With the resolution now in hand, the city can ask the General Assembly to allow Virginia Beach to pass a law if it chooses. The point man in Richmond is Del. Leo C. Wardrup Jr.
``This ordinance is in effect in Blacksburg and several Northern Virginia locations, and it seems to be working well there,'' said Wardrup, who will sponsor a bill before the Roads and Internal Navigation Committee on which he sits.
``The ordinance does not require the police to check the IDs of citizens who are 14 years old. The idea is that a law would be a strong encouragement for children and their parents to wear safety helmets.''
Citing a corollary, Wardrup said it's difficult to enforce laws calling for people to wear seat belts.
``But would anyone argue that wearing them has not prevented injury and death? I think safety helmets fall into the same class.''
Sitting quietly through the discussion were the five children who had prompted the council's debate: T. Jack Bagby, Chris Bagley, Lara McBride, Emily Mead and Meredith Brannon.
When the debate ended, the children gathered outside council chambers where Bagby considered Moss's concerns.
``Mr. Moss said parents should be more responsible, and he has a good point,'' Bagby said. ``But I think we can find a way to convince him.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star asked readers Tuesday
whether they believe children 14 and younger should be required to
wear a safety helmet when biking. Their answers were evenly divided.
Of those who participated in the unscientific poll, 196 said yes and
184 voted no. Here are a few selected comments:
``I think they should be required to wear helmets, but how are
you going to enforce that? Police have enough to do without writing
tickets to 10- and 12-year-olds. How are you going to get the
parents to court?'' - W.M. Bunker, Suffolk
``I think this cause is a result of an overzealous schoolteacher.
We already have enough laws. If these youngsters want to wear
helmets, they are free to do this. We already have enough government
interfering in our lives.'' - Harry Holden, Virginia Beach
``I have three boys and all three wear helmets when they are on
their bike or skateboard. It's kind of rubbed off in the subdivision
and you see more and more kids. . . . It can be presented as the
cool thing to do.'' - Donald Hamilton, Chesapeake
``I don't think this should be confined to children. It should
apply to everyone.'' Emily Lathan, Virginia Beach
``I have bicycled more than 10,000 miles in my life and I know
it's more important to know how to fall than to wear a helmet. Young
bicyclists should be trained and taught how to fall and not how to
wear helmets.'' - Ed Kuhn, Virginia Beach by CNB