Students show the way

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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Susan Shullaw of Iowa City was “inspired” by three Iowa City West High School students who traveled to the state Capitol last week to back legislation requiring young mo-ped riders to wear helmets. She admired their persistence and spirit as they sought lawmakers' support in honor of their friend, Caroline Found, who died in a mo-ped accident last August and was not wearing a helmet.

The students' testimony didn't convince a Senate transportation subcommittee to advance the bill, at least for now. But we, like Shullaw, were impressed with the efforts of Leah Murray, Olivia Lofgren and Caroline Van Voorhis. They did succeed in bringing more attention to a serious issue.

And their example prompted the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids-based Iowa Women's Leadership Conference to follow up on Shullaw's suggestion and grant the three students scholarships to attend the group's April 25 event as a way to encourage and develop their leadership skills.

We also hope the students don't give up their quest. We have long supported Iowa requiring children under 18 to wear a helmet on any open motorized vehicle. And we've come to see that a helmet law for all ages makes sense.

More than 80 percent of Iowans killed while riding motorcycles were not wearing helmets. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research shows a helmet gives riders a nearly 30 percent better chance of surviving a crash. And NHTSA studies have found that helmets don't significantly restrict a rider's ability to hear and see.

Nonetheless, Iowa is one of only three states without any kind of helmet law.

Several Senate committee members praised the students' efforts but were reluctant to support a helmet mandate, saying they don't think it would fly with most Iowans and that government can't replace personal responsibility.

We agree that no law will convince every motorcycle or mo-ped rider to wear protective head gear. Personal responsibility is paramount.

But, when combined with driver education that begins in school, there's no doubt such a public safety helmet law would save many lives. Certainly, it's no more intrusive than a seat-belt mandate, with which more than 90 percent of Iowans consistently comply.

Students see the benefits. Legislators should, too.

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