North Carolina helmet law

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Adult motorcyclists should be able to ride
without helmets if they have medical insurance and have taken safety
classes, a state House study committee says.

The committee proposed revisions Wednesday in an effort to eliminate
barriers to past attempts to modify the state helmet law. Under the
proposal, helmets would be optional for motorcyclists who are at
least 21 years old, have 12 months of motorcycling experience, take a
motorcycle safety class and obtain at least $10,000 in medical
insurance coverage for motorcycle crash injury.

Motorcyclists who are 21 or older and were licensed before October
2003 would be allowed to ride helmet-free without meeting the safety
education and insurance rules.

Past attempts to limit the helmet requirement to young riders or
repeal it altogether have failed.

"In the past, I have not voted for it," Rep. Larry W. Womble,
D-Forsyth, a committee member, said after the 3-0 vote by the special
panel. "This is a different bill. I'm considering supporting it."

The votes for the proposal came from three committee members, two of
them motorcyclists, who sponsored similar measures in the past.
Womble abstained.

The bill will be offered when the Legislature convenes Monday.

Under the proposal, registration fees for most motorcycles would
increase from $12 to $14. The additional money would help pay for
motorcycle safety instruction courses at community colleges.

Rep. John L. Sauls, a Lee County Republican and committee
co-chairman, said the measure would reduce accidents by targeting
young and inexperienced motorcyclists for more safety training.

The health insurance requirement was aimed at concerns about
taxpayers having to pay hospital bills for injured bikers who are not
insured.

"Most people say, 'I don't care if you ride without a helmet - but
if you bust your head open, it shouldn't cost me,' " said Sauls, a
motorcyclist since 1970.

Russ Rader, spokesman for the Virginia-based Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety, said helmets are needed to stem the increasing deaths
of older motorcyclists.

"There's no evidence that helmet laws only for young riders reduce
deaths and injuries," Rader said. "There's no evidence that training
courses are a substitute for helmet laws."

About 230,000 North Carolinians are licensed to drive motorcycles.

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Davïd
Greenville, NC