HONOLULU (KHON2) — With the skyrocketing number of traffic deaths on Oahu’s roads, Governor Josh Green says it’s probably time to make helmets mandatory for all motorcycle riders.
While riders do acknowledge the safety benefits, they say the decision to wear a helmet or not should be kept to themselves.
At Cycle City Hawaii, when customers buy a motorcycle, they’re also fitted for a helmet.
“It’s a personal choice,” said Khepera Ridley, Cycle City Hawaii sales manager. “We don’t wanna infringe on anyone’s personal choice if they want to or not, but for us at the shop, we highly encourage helmet use because we want our people to go out and have fun, return safely back home to their friends and family.”
That choice would change to being required if Gov. Green had his way. He said that if the legislature passed a mandatory helmet law for all motorcycle riders, he would sign it.
“I do understand that people like some independence, but the truth is, almost all of these fatalities, especially if it’s on bikes, motorbikes or motorcycles, if people are without a helmet, the likelihood of dying is much higher,” said Green.
Current Hawaii law only requires those under 18 to wear a helmet. According to Honolulu Police, of the 26 fatalities on motorcycles, mopeds, bikes and e-bikes so far this year, 16 were not wearing a helmet – about 61 percent.
National statistics show similar data in states without universal helmet laws, with 54% of riders dying while not wearing a helmet. That number drops to 11% in states with helmet laws.
“I think the number one contributing factor is not if that motorcycle rider is wearing a helmet or not, I think it’s a little bit deeper,” said James Harbin, Street Bikers United Oahu Chapter President. “We start talking about driver distractions.”
Street Bikers United has been fighting a mandatory helmet law for years and will continue to do so, even if a lot of their members choose to wear one.
“Before, I thought wearing a helmet was just the coolest thing in the world, was not to wear one,” said Harbin. “But then as I rode more, I decide I would go ahead and just wear a helmet, but once again, that’s a personal choice.”
“When you look at some of the most progressive laws that we have now that have become common sense, like seatbelts,” said Rep. Darius Kila, State House Transportation chair. “These were once laws that were protested and said it’s too invasive.”
A helmet law is still a long way from becoming reality. But one thing everyone agrees on – we all need to do better on our roads.
“I welcome that discussion and look forward to the discussion this session ahead,” said Kila. “Nothing is off the table.”