THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 10, 1995 TAG: 9501100314
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
The last thing most children want is more rules. Apply the maxim to teenagers, and even the most forgiving parent would have to laugh at the thought.
But a group of safety-minded students at Kempsville Middle School will make a case for more regulation today before the city's undisputed king of rules: City Council.
Armed with letters of support and the promises of a state legislator, five students will ask the council to enact a law requiring children 14 and younger to wear safety helmets while riding a bicycle in Virginia Beach.
The enterprising students, from a class for the academically gifted, hope the law would not only save lives but also improve the chances of surviving accidents on bicycles.
``I think it's important to protect people,'' said Emily J. Mead, a 13-year-old seventh-grader. ``Helmets are required for motorcycle and moped riders, so why not for bicycles?''
``Yeah, and bicycles are more dangerous than motorcycles,'' added her classmate, Lara E. McBride, 12. ``With motorcycles you can at least hear the engine, but with a bicycle you can't hear anything, unless you have a bell or something. And in many sports you have to wear a helmet, like in football or when you're at bat in baseball.''
The idea for a helmet law started with two of the girls' class members during a soccer tournament last year.
T. Jack Bagby and Chris Bagley, both 12, were playing soccer when they noticed an opposing team's members wore commemorative patches. They learned that the patches were in honor of a team member who died in a bicycle and automobile accident last year.
``We realized he was the same age as us and played soccer, and that gave us the realization that it could happen to us,'' said Bagby.
``We weren't real excited about it then because so many kids think it's not cool to wear helmets,'' he added. ``But then we thought it would be cool to get the whole city involved in this. If everyone got involved and everyone was required to wear a helmet, then maybe it would be the cool thing to do.''
With the help of their teacher, Carolyn Stamm, the class began researching the problem, how a law could be made and whom they'd have to contact. What they found surprised them.
An estimated 400,000 children are injured each year in bicycle-related accidents that require emergency-room treatment - and300 of them die, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign. Based at the Children's National Medical Center hospital in Washington, the organization is dedicated to preventing childhood injury.
Head trauma was involved in an estimated 70 percent of all hospitalizations involving cyclists, with the vast majority preventable with helmets, the group said.
In Virginia last year, 15 people were killed in motor vehicle and bicycle accidents, and 1,165 were injured. Of those hurt, 568 were younger than 20 and 348 were younger than 14, the students found.
Upon learning this, the children set out to round up support for their cause and found a willing audience. In addition to receiving letters from the Washington group, the students got a letter of support from Del. Leo Wardrup.
Wardrup said he would sponsor a House joint resolution to proclaim May 6 through 13 as 1995 National Safe Kids Week. He also said he would ask Legislative Services to draft a bill that would give Virginia Beach the authority to enact the helmet law.
Wardrup promised to introduce both the resolution and the bill by Jan. 16. The General Assembly's help is needed because of the ``Dillon Rule,'' which prohibits cities from making laws that supersede the state. If the Assembly approves the bill, then the City Council will be free to enact a law.
``The only areas that have helmet laws that we're aware of in Virginia are Fairfax, Arlington, Blacksburg and Alexandria counties,'' said Stamm, the teacher.
In Fairfax County, where the law took effect last July, Police Department spokesman Gary S. Brown said officers use the helmet law strictly as an educational tool despite the $25 penalty a violation could carry.
``A lot of issues involving juveniles need to go back to parents,'' he said. ``The responsibility does not lie with government to ensure that children wear safety helmets.''
If officers see children without their helmets they can stop and instruct them on the law, he said, but they don't cruise neighborhoods looking for offenders. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
CHARLIE MEADS
Staff
Students Lara E. McBride, Chris Bagley, Emily J. Mead and T. Jack
Bagby, from left, are leading the battle for bicycle helmets with
help from their teacher, Carolyn Stamm.
INFOLINE
Readers can call 640-5555 to vote on whether children 14 and
younger should be required to wear safety helmets when they go
biking. Punch 2001 to vote yes and 2002 to vote no. Votes and
comments will be recorded until 5 p.m. today.
KEYWORDS: BICYCLE HELMET by CNB