1 October 2020
Then-Forder Elementary Principal Scott Clark, {an avid|a devoted|a passionate} motorcyclist, {granted|given|approved} Rogers Elementary custodian Dorothy McCormick’s {wish|desire|dream} to take {a motorcycle|a motorbike|a bike} {ride|trip|flight} in August 2014. By Mark Ossolinski, Missouri News Network October 1, 2020 When Columbia resident Ricky Reeves was {killed|eliminated} in a
{legally|lawfully} not {wearing|using} a helmet.”{Honestly|Truthfully}, I {feel like|seem like} it is the {person|individual}’s {choice|option}, “{said|stated} Leslie Reeves, his widow.”I {know|understand} that my {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner} was {killed|eliminated}. I {definitely|certainly|absolutely} {feel like|seem like} riders {should|ought to|must|need to} have the {ability|capability} to make that {choice|option} {for themselves|on their own}. … {At least|A minimum of} he {died|passed away} doing something that he {loved|liked|enjoyed}.”{In the case of|When it comes to} her late {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner}, who was struck by {multiple|several|numerous} {vehicles|cars|automobiles|lorries}, it’s {unlikely|not likely} that {wearing|using} a helmet would have {saved|conserved} his life, Reeves {said|stated}. {{But|However} her view on helmets and {choice|option}, which she {said|stated} her {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner} shared, {nonetheless|nevertheless|however} {reflects|shows} the {complexity|intricacy} of {competing|contending|completing} {values|worths} underlying {a new|a brand-new} state law that {went into|entered into} {effect|impact|result} Aug. 28.|Her view on helmets and {choice|option}, which she {said|stated} her {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner} shared, {nonetheless|nevertheless|however} {reflects|shows} the {complexity|intricacy} of {competing|contending|completing} {values|worths} underlying {a new|a brand-new} state law that went into {effect|impact|result} Aug. 28.} {Previously|Formerly}, all riders in Missouri were {required|needed} to {wear|use} a helmet. The
{new|brand-new} law {allows|enables|permits} them to ride without one as long as they are 26 or older and have {insurance|insurance coverage} that {provides|offers|supplies} medical {benefits|advantages} for injuries {incurred|sustained} as {a result|an outcome} of {a motorcycle|a motorbike|a bike} or motortricycle {accident|mishap}. It {also|likewise} {stipulates|states|specifies} that”no {person|individual} {shall|will} be stopped, {inspected|examined|checked} or {detained|apprehended} {solely|entirely|exclusively} to {determine|identify|figure out} compliance “with that requirement {and that|which} “no political {subdivision|neighborhood} of this state {shall|will} {impose|enforce} a protective headgear requirement on the operator or {passenger|traveler|guest} of {a motorcycle|a motorbike|a bike} or motortricycle.
“{Similar|Comparable} {bills|expenses|costs} {attempting|trying} to {repeal|reverse|rescind} the law {have|have actually} reached the {governor|guv}’s desk {before|prior to}: Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan {vetoed|banned} a repeal in 1999, and Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon {vetoed|banned} another in 2009. {{But|However} 2020 brought {a different|a various} {outcome|result}.|2020 brought {a different|a various} {outcome|result}.} After {vetoing|banning} a broad omnibus {bill|expense|costs} in 2019 that would have enacted the {new|brand-new} helmet law {because|since|due to the fact that} of {concerns with|interest in|worry about} {separate|different} {provisions|arrangements} in the {bill|expense|costs}, Gov. Mike Parson signed {a different|a various} omnibus {package|bundle|plan} in July {containing|including|consisting of} the {new|brand-new} law. Its passage has conservative {lawmakers|legislators} and riders’rights {advocates|supporters} in Missouri {celebrating|commemorating}– and {road|roadway} {safety|security} {advocates|supporters} {expressing|revealing} {grave|serious|severe} {concern|issue}.”The {research|research study}, {data|information} and experience {show|reveal} that
helmets are {proven|shown} lifesavers,”{said|stated} Tara Gill, senior director of advocacy and state legislation for {Advocates|Supporters} for Highway and {Auto|Car|Automobile|Vehicle} {Safety|Security}.”{Data|Information} {show|reveal} that when these laws are {weakened|compromised|deteriorated|damaged}, {fatalities|deaths|casualties} increase, {related|associated} {costs|expenses} increase.” Gill’s {organization|company} was active in
{fighting|combating|battling} the law’s passage. It {published|released} op-eds in the state {attempting|trying} to raise awareness of {data|information} {showing|revealing} that motorcycle-related {fatalities|deaths|casualties} {inevitably|undoubtedly} increase
in states that {repeal|reverse|rescind} universal helmet requirements. After Parson signed the {bill|expense|costs} in July, {Advocates|Supporters} for Highway and {Auto|Car|Automobile|Vehicle} {Safety|Security} {issued|provided|released} {a statement|a declaration} together with {a coalition|a union} of Missouri public health advocacy groups. The {statement|declaration} called the {bill|expense|costs}’s signing a”
{deadly|fatal|lethal} {decision|choice}”in which”{common sense|good sense|sound judgment} was sidelined by the {agenda|program} of {a vocal|a singing} minority.”It {also|likewise} {cited|mentioned|pointed out} {data|information} from Michigan, where the {percentage|portion} of non-helmeted crash {fatalities|deaths|casualties} quadrupled after the state {weakened|compromised|deteriorated|damaged} its helmet requirement in 2012, and Florida, where {fatalities|deaths|casualties} increased by 21 percent per 10,000 {registered|signed up} {motorcycles|motorbikes|bikes} after the state {repealed|reversed|rescinded} its universal helmet law. The Missouri Department of {Transportation|Transport}, in {a safety|a security} {brochure|pamphlet|sales brochure} on its {website|site}, {estimates|approximates} that the state will
see a 38-percent {increase|boost} in {fatalities|deaths|casualties} as {a result|an outcome} of the helmet requirement’s repeal. MoDOT {also|likewise} {estimates|approximates} {an annual|a yearly} {economic|financial} loss for
the state of$9.1 million per {motorcycle|motorbike|bike} {fatality|death|casualty}. In {allowing|enabling|permitting} most riders to not {wear|use} a helmet, Missouri {joins|signs up with} 31 other states that {give|provide|offer} some or all riders the right to ride unhelmeted. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia still {require|need} all riders to {wear|use} a helmet. Those who {pushed for|promoted} the law’s passage {were consistent|corresponded} in {citing|mentioning|pointing out} the {factors|elements|aspects} that, for them, supersede the {strict|stringent|rigorous} {focus on|concentrate on} {safety|security}: {freedom|flexibility|liberty} and {choice|option}. Tony Shepherd, {legislative|legal} director for A Brotherhood {Aimed|Intended} Towards Education for Missouri, a riders ‘rights group, {returned to|went back to} those words {repeatedly|consistently} while {advocating|promoting} for
the law.”We are not {outlawing|banning|forbiding|disallowing} the helmet. We’re {giving|providing|offering} {the people|individuals} the {choice|option}. A helmet is {a good|a great|an excellent} {safety|security} {device|gadget}– I ca
n’t argue that it’s not, “Shepherd {said|stated}. “It rolls down to one word: {freedom|flexibility|liberty}. We’re {just|simply} {trying|attempting} to {give|provide|offer} a piece of
{freedom|flexibility|liberty} to the {individual|private|specific} rider.”Shepherd did not refute the {data|information} {showing|revealing} a link {between|in between}
{relaxed|unwinded} helmet laws and {fatalities|deaths|casualties}, and he acknowledged increased deaths– in relation to what he {predicted|anticipated|forecasted} would be {an increase|a boost} in riders– as {a potential|a prospective|a possible} {cost|expense} of the {new|brand-new}
law. He, {along with|together with|in addition to} ABATE for Missouri, {recommends|suggests|advises} {wearing|using} a helmet. {{But|However} he {maintained|preserved|kept} that the {decision|choice} to {wear|use} one {should|ought to|must|need to} be {left to|delegated} the {individual|private|specific} and not the {government|federal government}.
| He {maintained|preserved|kept} that the {decision|choice} to {wear|use} one {should|ought to|must|need to} be left to the {individual|private|specific} and not the {government|federal government}.
} He {also|likewise} {said|stated} when riders {do away with|eliminate|get rid of} the helmet, they’re more {inclined|likely} to practice {caution|care}. “We take {risks|dangers|threats} every day of our life, either driving {a car|a vehicle|an automobile|a cars and truck}, crossing the street … every day
that we {are alive|live}, we’re taking {a risk|a danger|a threat}. When we get on that {motorcycle|motorbike|bike}, {we know|we understand} we’re taking {a risk|a danger|a threat},”
Shepherd {said|stated}. Rep. Shane Roden, R-Cedar Hill, who sponsored the {original|initial} {version|variation} of the law in {the House|your home|your house}, echoed Shepherd’s argument.”{One of|Among} {the things|the important things} I kept hearing from constituents in my district was that they {wanted|desired} the {choice|option},”Roden {said|stated}.
“As {a motorcycle|a motorbike|a bike} rider, I {appreciated|valued} that {choice|option}.
“Roden {said|stated} part of the {impetus|motivation|inspiration|incentive} for the law {had to do with|related to|pertained to|involved} economics and {practicality|functionality|usefulness}, {citing|mentioning|pointing out} Missourians who in the past {have|have actually} {chosen|selected|picked} to ride in Illinois or Iowa, where there are no helmet requirements, and
take their helmets off {as soon as|as quickly as} they cross the state line. Those riders, Roden {said|stated}, {spend|invest} {money|cash} on fuel taxes and other {goods|products|items} and services that would otherwise be {spent|invested} in Missouri. {{But|However} Roden, who {also|likewise} {wears|uses} a helmet, {said|stated} the {broader|wider|more comprehensive} {issue|problem|concern} at stake is the {government|federal government}’s {role|function} in {regulating|controling|managing} {people|individuals}’s {safety|security}.|Roden, who {also|likewise} {wears|uses} a helmet, {said|stated} the {broader|wider|more comprehensive} {issue|problem|concern} at stake is the {government|federal government}’s {role|function} in {regulating|controling|managing} {people|individuals}’s {safety|security}.}”Where do we {start|begin} {drawing the line|fixing a limit} on what {government|federal government} {is responsible for|is accountable for} doing?”he asked.
“There’s no {good|great|excellent} {reason|factor} to {jump|leap} out of {a plane|an airplane|an aircraft}, {but|however} parachuters do it all the time.” “{Someone|Somebody} who {wants to|wishes to} {regulate|control|manage} what you {want to|wish to} {do in|perform in|carry out in} your life, they
{‘re part of| belong to| become part of} the {problem|issue}. Live your life, let {other people|other individuals} live their life and mind your own {business|company|service|organization}.”For Gill, the {issue|problem|concern} is more {complex|complicated|intricate}. “It is {a privilege|a benefit|an opportunity|an advantage} to drive on public {roads|roadways}, and the {repercussions|consequences|effects} of their {choice|option} is not {limited|restricted} to the {individual|person},”she
{said|stated}. “When you sustain these injuries, it {doesn’t|does not} {just|simply} {affect|impact} the {individual|person}, it’s {family|household}, {friends|buddies|pals|good friends}, it’s all taxpayers in the state who {have to|need to} cover {medical care|healthcare|treatment} and other associated {costs|expenses}.”It {remains|stays} to be seen what those {costs|expenses} will {ultimately|eventually} be for the state. {{But|However} for {many|numerous|lots of} Missouri {{legislators|lawmakers} and riders|riders and {legislators|lawmakers}},
it’s {a cost|an expense} worth paying.|For {many|numerous|lots of} Missouri {{legislators|lawmakers} and riders|riders and {legislators|lawmakers}},
it’s a cost {worth|expense} paying.} {Though grieving, that’s {also|likewise} the view of Leslie Reeves in the wake of her {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner}’s death.|Grieving, that’s {also|likewise} the view of Leslie Reeves in the wake of her {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner}’s death.}”He will {forever|permanently} have his knees in the breeze, {and that|which}’s something I’ll {just|simply} {have to|need to}
accept.” Source: callnewspapers.com