History
In 1993 Georgia passed a law requiring anyone under the age of 16 to wear a bicycle helmet when on a state road, street or bicycle path. There have been unsuccessful attempts to overturn the law.
Benefits
Proponents of helmet laws, and most government agencies, believe wearing a helmet prevents serious head injuries when there are accidents. Some children have been seriously injured in what would have otherwise been a minor accident.
Opponents
Some bicycle clubs and groups oppose helmet laws. They say it gives riders a false sense of security, and it might discourage young people from taking up cycling. They advocate instead an education program to teach better safety practices.
Enforcement
In 1997, police in the small town of Wadley, Georgia, began confiscating bikes when children were found riding without a helmet as part of a study after officials realized the state law was rarely enforced. Helmet use rose dramatically after the confiscation began.
Effects
Georgia has also passed legislation declaring that bicycles are vehicles and bike riders must follow the same rules and have the same rights as automobile drivers. The state also allows cities to decide whether to allow children under 12 to ride bikes on the sidewalk.
Article Written By James Jordan
James Jordan has been a writer and photographer since 1980. He has worked for newspapers in Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kansas, winning state press association awards for writing, photography and page design. In 1995 he received his master's in Christian education and completed two years of Ancient Greek at the graduate level. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
