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Group disputes report about wearing a motorcycle helmet
03/27/2008 12:12:11
A motorcycle group says an article about motorcycle deaths spiking as helmet laws loosen is missing a key point. The Gannett News Service analysis of federal accident reports from the Department of Transportation shows that in 1996, about five motorcyclists were killed for every 10,000 registered. By 2006,the rate had risen to about seven motorcyclists.
Jeff Hennie with the Motorcycle Riders Foundation tells WJBC's Beth Whisman the report doesn't mention that more people are riding motorcycles compared to previous years.
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Hennie says putting on a helmet will not prevent a motorcycle crash. He believes safety education for motorcyclists and drivers is crucial. Illinois is one of three states that has no helmet law.
Two decades ago, 47 states required helmets for all riders but that number has dropped to 20 today. Twenty-seven states require younger riders to wear helmets. After 1995 the federal government decided to stop withholding highway money from states without helmet laws.
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