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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Provides that motorcyclists under the age of twenty-one shall wear protective helmets of a type approved by the commissioner when operating or riding a motorcycle
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Donna Lupardo
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1900
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring certain motorcyclists to wear protective helmets
Purpose
This bill exempts those 21 years and over from being forced to wear helmets while operating motorcycles.
Summary of provisions
Subdivision 6 of § 381 of the Vehicle and Traf- fic Law is amended.
Justification
The "Federal Aid Highway Act of 1975" abolished the power of the Department of Transportation to withhold highway safety funds for noncompliance with mandatory helmet laws. Since then, twenty- seven states now have optional helmet laws for adults. Included in this number are such neighboring states as Connecticut, Rhode Island, Dela- ware, New Hampshire, Maine, and Ohio, making New York's law inconsistent with regional policy.
A survey of 1995 data shows comprehensive mandatory helmet laws DO NOT result in lower fatality rates. In fact, statistics show a higher frequency of fatalities among riders in states with mandatory helmet laws- (1 in 1574 registered motorcycles) as compared to states that have optional laws for adult riders (1 in 1867 registered motorcycles).
These numbers support other studies, one done using 1993 statistics which showed fatalities per 100 motorcycle accidents in mandatory helmet states to be 2.98 as compared to voluntary helmet states, 2.90.
Helmets are an unnatural weight upon the head of the rider and radically increase cranial temperatures. Helmets severely restrict peripheral vision and significantly reduce hearing. No helmet, regardless of cost or design, is capable of resisting impact stresses above 13 m.p.h., as Federal Department of Transportation testing has evidenced, and, in lateral skids, helmets deteriorated at 1 1/2 m.p.h. Thus, taking into account that survey result the choice of when and where to wear the helmet would best be left up to the person operating the motorcycle, as is the case in the several other states.
Legislative history
S.1953 of 2005/2006. S.2836 of 2007/2008 S.2403 of 2009/2010 S.2974 of 2011/2012
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 45th day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.