[Mrfnews] 08NR04 - The Helmet Debate Rages On in the National Spotlight

[mrfnews at mrf.org]

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
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April 1, 2008

Tiffany Latimer, MRF Public Relations Assistant
E-mail:  pr at mrf.org

The Helmet Debate Rages On in the National Spotlight

In recent days, the USA Today has devoted themselves to covering a major
hot button issue with motorcyclists: Helmets.  The helmet law debate was
catapulted back into the national spotlight with an article last week that
highlighted the increase of motorcycling fatalities in the past ten years.
 Since that original article, Vice President of Government Relations, Jeff
Hennie defended why helmet laws have not proven to be the best course of
action to save motorcyclist lives.

The USA Today continued on with the subject of helmet laws and motorcycle
fatalities today by featuring both sides of the story. "Our View on Helmet
Laws: Motorcycle Madness," written by the USA Today highlighted the
increase of motorcycle fatalities since Congress repealed its helmet
policy in 1995.

Like most things do, motorcycling has significantly increased in the US
within that time frame used in the USA Today's view of helmet laws. MRF
lobbyist, Jeff Hennie weighed in on the situation with his rebuttal
"Opposing view: Helmet Laws don’t work."  Not only does this article
discuss the proportionate increase in motorcycle deaths in the past ten
years but goes on to explain why state helmet laws have not proven to be
the most effective way to prevent fatalities.

For more information on this subject, you can contact Jeff Hennie, V.P. of
Government Relations at jeff at mrf.org or at 202-546-0983.  To read these
articles for yourself, check them out on the USA Today website.

Today's articles:

"Our view on helmet laws: Motorcycle madness" by  USA Today

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/04/our-view-on-hel.html

"Opposing view: Helmet Laws don’t work" by  Jeff Hennie

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/04/opposing-view-h.html

Last week's article:

"Motorcyclists deaths spike as helmet laws loosen"  USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-26-bikehelmets_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip


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(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction
permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated
in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights
organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists'
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC,
the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted
exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early
1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the
very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading
members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and
regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public
awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights
organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional
and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as
well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.