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Home My WebLink About5.1 Support AB 36 Motorcycle Helmets CITY OF DUBLIN il AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: February 9, 1987 SUBJECT Written Communication from Steve Lambert, Alameda County Coordinator of Californians for Safe Motorcycling EXHIBITS ATTACHED Letter from Mr. Lambert dated January 21, 1987; Resolution Supporting AB 36 01(RECOMMENDATION Consider request to adopt resolution FINANCIAL STATEMENT: A recent study by UC Davis indicates that more than 80% of hospital costs incurred by injured motorcyclists are paid for by California taxpayers . DESCRIPTION The Mayor has been contacted by Mr. Steve Lambert, the Alameda County Coordinator for Californians for Safe Motorcycling. Mr. Lambert has requested, that the City Council consider adoption of a resolution which supports AB 36 (Floyd) . -- The Californians for Safe Motorcycling have included a copy of Assembly Bill 36 which has been introduced by Assemblyman Floyd. , Under current law, individuals under the age of 15 years' and 6 months who operate a motorcycle or motorized bicycle on a highway must wear a safety helmet. The existing law also requires passengers under that age limit to wear a safety helmet. The proposed legislation would require that all motorcycle riders wear safety helmets regardless of their age . Included in the correspondence is data related to the number of injury accidents occurring with motorcycles . Mr. Lambert has presented information for Alameda County based on 1985 accident records . This information shows that a rate of 11. 4 deaths per 100, 000 registered automobiles occurred while the rate of deaths per 100, 000 registered motorcycles - was 86. 7 . The supporters of this legislation have stated that in other states similiar laws have increased helmet usage to almost 100% and decreased deaths and serious injuries among motorcyclists by 40% to 60%. Their research has also indicated that the taxpayers have often paid the majority hospital costs incurred by motorcyclists involved in accidents . Staff has prepared a resolution consistent with the model resolution requested by Californians for Safe Motorcycling. It is recommended that the City Council consider the request to support AB 36 ' through the adoption of the draft resolution. COPIES TO: Californians for Safe Motorcycling 6931 Fifth Street ITEM NO. 5'44 Rio Linda, CA 95673 CALIFORNIANS FOR SAFE MOTORCYCLING 6931 Fifth Street Rio Linda, California 95673 __ ', (916)991-5091 lt'.\\,�1! 4-i January 21, 1987 �;1 ;y't,1i4- J: ! 9 f) 1C:7 '�e+.1 Mayor Linda Jeffery kIF +; 1 _ Dublin (Library) - , �,1,,-� ! 7606 Amador Valley Blvd. `.,� Dublin, CA 94568 a, Dear Mayor Jeffery, Board of Directors President I am writing to ask for your help in preventing motorcycle Mary Price fatalities in California by requiring motorcyclists to wear Treasurer helmets. Lucie K.Whitney James Boggan, M.D. In Alameda County in 1985, there were 981 motorcycle and moped Susan M.Cleek crashes causing 27 deaths and 1,048 injuries. For a comparison of Hayden Dawson categories of road-related injuries and deaths in Alameda County: Beverly Holguin Richard Plum Robert N.Szabo, M.D. 664,690 autos registered and 76 car occupants died in crashes Laura Timmerman (a rate of 11.4 deaths per 100,000 registered autos) C.E.van Cott 31,143 motorcycles are registered and 27 motorcyclists died E.eecutireDirector (a rate of 86.7 deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles). Robert L.Terry Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd (D, Gardena) has introduced Assembly Bill 36, to . require all motorcyclists to wear helmets. At present, the California Vehicle Code requires only those under the age of 15 years 6 months to wear a helmet. Evidence from other states reveals that universal motorcycle helmet use laws increase helmet usage to almost 100% and decrease deaths and serious injuries among motorcyclists by 40-60%. While one would like to argue for the law strictly from a public health perspective, one must also recognize the economic burdens caused by these injuries which are borne by the taxpayer. A study done at UC-Davis reveals that more than 80% of the hospital costs incurred by injured motorcyclists are paid for by California taxpayers. We would like your City Council to pass a resolution of support for AB 36. Enclosed is a draft resolution in support of AB 36. Please send a copy of your resolution to the office of "Californians for Safe Motorcycling", 6931 Fifth Street, Rio Linda, California 95673. If you have any questions about motorcyclists' injuries, the efficacy of helmets, or AB 36, please contact me at my home: telephone 793-5532 (TU & TH between 10 am - 5 pm; M,W,F: 12-5 pm). We know you will want to help us. Sincerely, 11&17—u-Q--J-. -- '4. (A.-- 76------- - Steve Lambert Alameda County Coordinator A California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation whose primary purpose is directed to promoting safe motorcycling through ' educating the public regarding the importance of motorcycling operators and passengers wearing protective headgear.(California Franchise Tax Board Organization Number 1292968). 16 RESOLUTION NO. -- 87 . A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL • OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN • ************************** . • SUPPORTING AB 36 WHICH REQUIRES ALL MOTORCYCLE AND MOTORIZED BICYCLE RIDERS TO WEAR A SAFETY HELMET WHEREAS, in 1984 alone, the California Highway Patrol statistics show that 27,344 motocyclists were injured, and of these 833 were killed and 3,766 had severe . injuries; and WHEREAS, the average hospital bill of an injured motorcyclist is • conservatively estimated at more than $17,000 per individual, and "indirect costs" such as lost wages and physical rehabilitation usually .are double the direct costs; and WHEREAS, California .taxpayers are paying more than 80 percent of the costs incurred by injured motorcyclists; and WHEREAS, motocyclist injuries cost the taxpayers more than $64 million a year for hospital bills alone, •based on the number of injuries in 1984; and WHEREAS, in California motorcyclists account for only 3% of all passenger- carrying vehicles, but are involved in 12% of crashes causing injury; and • WHEREAS, per mile, a motocyclist is more than 10' times more likely to die in a crash than an automobile occupant; and WHEREAS, unhelmeted riders have more than 2.5 times as many critical or fatal head injuries as riders who wear helmets; and WHEREAS, the statistics noted have been taken from medical journals and governmental agency reports; and WHEREAS, we are concerned about the enormous financial cost to taxpayers and the unmeasurable emotional cost to victims in loss of human lives and suffering caused by motorcycle crashes; and WHEREAS, a mandatory helmet law in California would reduce motorcycle rider deaths and save the taxpayer millions of dollars annually; • . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Dublin City Council hereby urges the " California legislature to pass AB 36 which will modify the existing state vehicle code and require all California motorcyclists to wear approved safety helmets. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of February, 1987. • AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Mayor ArrEST: City Clerk