SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1468

BYRepresentatives Fisher, Winsley, Ferguson, Hine, Zellinsky, Moyer, Brooks, Baugher, Rayburn, Rasmussen, Doty, Sprenkle, Jacobsen, Leonard, Walker, Locke and Brekke

Requiring helmets for all persons operating or riding on motorcycles.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 25, 1988

Senate Staff:Cathy Mayo (786-7304)

AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Washington's mandatory helmet law was originally enacted in 1967 and repealed in 1977.  The recent enactment of the mandatory child restraint and seat belt laws brought about a renewed interest for mandatory motorcycle helmet usage.  In response, the Legislature enacted a mandatory helmet law in 1987 for all persons under the age of 18.

According to the Traffic Safety Commission's 1987 Traffic Collisions report, motorcycle fatal collisions decreased 3.3 percent when compared to the previous 4-year baseline average.  Total reported collisions, however, increased 1.2 percent and injury collisions increased 1.7 percent over the baseline average.  Motorcycle registrations totalled 122,751, a decrease of 4.0 percent over the baseline period.  The 1986 collision rate for every 100 vehicles registered was up 5.4 percent (2.86) when compared to the baseline rate of 2.71 collisions for every 100 motorcycles registered.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there is no evidence that helmet laws that apply only to young riders reduce deaths and injuries.  In states with such laws, 32 percent of the motorcyclists killed in crashes are 21 years old or younger.  The same percentage holds true for this same age group in states without helmet use laws.

Nineteen states require all riders to wear helmets; 23 states have a minimum age requirement (usually under the age of 18).  The only western state that requires all riders to wear a helmet is Nevada.  California has a mandatory helmet law for riders under 15-1/2 years of age.

SUMMARY:

Washington's mandatory use of motorcycle helmets is expanded to include all motorcycle operators and passengers.  The responsibility for helmet rules and equipment standards is transferred from the Commission on Equipment to the State Patrol.  (The Commission on Equipment is now the Equipment Standards Review Section in the State Patrol.)

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested