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Helmet Law: Upgrade to Omnibus Safety Legislation
According to recent news items:
Ontario Liberal backbencher John Milloy has introduced a private member's bill to amend the helmet provisions of the Highway Traffic Act to include most vehicles that are powered by people, requiring skateboarders, cyclists and in-line skaters of all ages to wear a helmet on the province's roadways. "At its core, I think this bill is really about creating a culture of safety in this province," Milloy told a news conference. Ontario NDP member Michael Prue declared: "There isn't a day goes by that I don't see someone on the streets of Toronto, an adult, with no helmet on their head, and I want to get out of my car or off the sidewalk and I want to grab them and I want to shake them." "I want to tell them that this was an absolutely wrong thing, a bad thing to happen." "Many [MPs] used their debate time Thursday to tell touching stories about friends or family members whose lives were cut short by head injuries". Members of the legislature provided unanimous approval on second reading of the bill. ******* While some critics claim that these are irrational actions based on emotional manipulation, we consider a "culture of safety" to be a good thing, and urge legislators to redouble their efforts: It would be a travesty to merely legislate the safety of human-powered vehicles, when the overwhelming majority of injuries are motor-vehicle related. Let's not waste our time with a law that is so narrow it cannot make a statistically significant improvement. What we need is omnibus transportation safety legislation, including, but not limited to the following: * All motor vehicle occupants must wear: * approved helmets * fire resistant full-body suits, gloves, and footwear * safety belts that are as safe as we can make them. It is appalling that standards for regular vehicles are so low, while sport drivers benefit from systems which are vastly superior. For example, in Formula-1 vehicles, drivers must wear two shoulder straps, one abdominal strap and two straps between the legs. We must legislate at least this level of protection. All existing vehicles must be retrofitted immediately. This will make air bags unnecessary, so there will be cost savings as well as injury reduction. * All cars must be fitted with fire extinguishing systems which will discharge into engine compartment and fuel tank areas. Fire extinguishers must also be placed in the passenger compartment in such a way that every occupant, while wearing the full safety harness, can reach and operate an extinguisher. * Every motor-vehicle carrying a flammable explosive fuel must display, on the front, rear, and both sides, approved "flammable and explosive" warning signs. * All existing speed limits must immediately be reduced by half. This one change would reduce annual highway deaths and injuries dramatically, and require no modifications to vehicles. Our highways must be as safe as possible. * Entertainment devices are a serious distraction, as motorists fiddle with controls of their radios, CD players, etc. instead of concentrating on driving. Such devices must be prohibited, and existing systems must be removed immediately. * Current driver licensing standards are deplorable: They do not reflect the real risks and responsibilities of motor-vehicle operation. A system of driver evaluation utilizing sophisticated simulators which realistically and objectively measure collision-avoidance ability must be implemented. Skill testing, along with enhanced NON-TRIVIAL written tests will be required annually. * We know that gasoline is far more dangerous than any firearm, and the terrible destructive power of diesel fuel has been proven many times, yet such fuels are sold to anyone who wishes to purchase them, in virtually unlimited quantities. Especially in view of the threat of terrorist activity, we must establish a registry of fuel purchasers. This legislation would make it a criminal offense to buy or sell fuel without authorization, punishable with a prison term of 10-15 years. In order to be registered, a person must successfully pass an annual test demonstrating knowledge of and competence in the safe handling of flammable liquids. All fuel purchasers would be subject to extensive, active background checks. The associated fees will ensure that the registry is revenue-positive. All of the changes listed above will create statistically significant improvements in the health of the affected citizens. Democratically elected legislators, can we count on your support? Will you drop this trivial self-promoting helmet bill, and support our efforts toward a truly safe culture? %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Passionately Concerned Citizens for a Culture of Safety "A perfect society through infinite legislation" %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% |
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