Staff Writer
The headline article for the Newport Harbor Weekly Bulletin, in both the months of January and February, was a reminder to students on the requirement of wearing a bicycle helmet.
An influx of bicycle helmet tickets have been given to Newport Harbor students in the past few weeks after Officer Gamble stressed the number of kids that disregarded the required safety measure.
A student under the age of eighteen could receive a ticket up to 150 dollars for not wearing a helmet. The enforcement of this is the responsibility of the local police departments. The police have begun cracking down by actively citing bicycle riders around Ensign and NHHS in hopes of sending the message that wearing a helmet can save your life.
Cops have been spotted with lines of students who have been caught without a helmet on. Several motorcycle police hide out on nearby streets prepared to hand out tickets to any high school riders or drivers. Wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce head injuries by up to 85% according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Some people might be resistant to wearing a helmet for a variety of reasons, but the facts simply speak for themselves. Kids may think it is "uncool" to wear a helmet, but it is actually "uncool" to get a ticket, and even worse to get a brain injury.
The institute further makes a point by stating that of all bicycle fatalities over the past few years, only 15% of those were wearing helmets.
To further prevent injury, it is critical to wear the proper equipment. Bicycle helmet standards in the United States are set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Whenever students purchase a helmet, there must be a sticker inside the helmet stating that it is CPSC approved.
As a result of the increased fatality rate of bicyclists, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa police continue to work to enforce the helmet law for those 18 and under more strongly.
If students start taking advantage of using their helmets and realizing the cost of a ticket, fewer accidents will happen and less tickets will be given out to NHHS students.
With contributions from Megan Farley.