FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Boz Kerr, MRF Vice-President
boz@mrf.org (e-mail)
Motorcycle Riders Foundation Opposes NTSB Helmet Law Recommendations
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) would like to express extreme disappointment with the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) recommendations on motorcycle safety, which they issued at their public meeting on September 11, 2007.
The NTSB's recommendations may have as well have been copied directly from a 1960's era federal bureaucratic handbook.
Vice President of Government Relations Jeff Hennie had this to say initially on the report: "A few things you should know. NTSB recommended that the three states that do not have helmet laws (IL, IA and NH) should enact universal helmet laws. Also, they recommended that the states that have modified laws enact universal laws."
Since the NTSB issued their safety recommendations, our Washington office has been deluged with requests for comments. Jeff Hennie has given interviews to major media outlets such as NBC News and CNN just to name a few. Jeff is giving priority to handling such requests. He will be issuing a detailed statement concerning the NTSB recommendations soon.
Our State Motorcyclist Rights Organization partners report giving interviews to the New York Times and the Associated Press.
Rest assured that the Motorcycle Riders Foundation will be working everyday to see that the NTSB recommendations on mandatory helmet laws do not become a reality.
The NTSB had this to say on helmet laws: "To the three states without motorcycle helmet laws: Require that all persons shall wear a Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218-compliant motorcycle helmet while riding (operating), or as a passenger on any motorcycle.
To the 27 states and 1 territory with partial helmet laws: Amend current laws to require that all persons shall wear a Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218-compliant motorcycle helmet while riding (operating), or as a passenger on any motorcycle.
To the 8 states, the District of Columbia, and the 4 territories that have universal motorcycle helmet laws but do not specifically require FMVSS 218-compliant helmets: Amend current laws to specify that all persons shall wear a Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218-compliant motorcycle helmet while riding (operating), or as a passenger on any motorcycle."
The full list of NTSB recommendations may be obtained at: www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2007/091107b.htm
Michael Kerr
MRF Vice President
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© All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists' rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.
The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.
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