Is it a law in your state that DSK under 16yrs must wear a helmet when they ride a bike?
Our DSD has 2 DSS and they do not wear helmets here in Fl. I thought it was the law..
How do ya'll feel about this??
I think DSH and I will be buying 2 helmets for our DSGS soon. REAL SOON!!!! I think they should be wearing them. I thought it was the law here in Fl but I see ALOT of kids riding to school without helmets or the helmet is on the handlebars..Thats NOT very SMART!
How do ya'll feel about this!!!

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 05:44 pm:

Law or not, they should wear helmets for safety sake.

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 05:51 pm:

BTW, I just looked up the law for FL at http://www.usa.safekids.org/. YES, helmets are required.

FLORIDA
Effective Date
05/17/1996

Law Mandate
Under 16 required to wear a helmet.

Regulating Agency
No provision

Enforcement
All offenses: $17 fine*
*Penalty may be waived if violator provided proof of purchase of a bicycle helmet within a specific period of time.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 07:06 pm:

I'm not sure how I feel about whether it should be a law or not, simply because I haven't thought of it that way. It's not the law here in IN.

I think it's just smart and responsible parenting though. Natalie has always worn a helmet while riding her bike. She just started riding last summer. I think it's a good idea to teach her now how important it is so that it will be second nature to put it on when she's older. I've known more than one child whose lives have been changed due to head injuries while riding a bike, so I wouldn't be against it being a law.

By Debbie on Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 07:29 pm:

I don't know if it is a law or not in our state. But, it is one of the non-negotiable things in our house, just like car seats. My dks must wear a helmet when riding their bikes, scooters, and skateboards. My youngest had a total wipe out on his scooter last year. It put a little dent in his helmet. I don't even want to think about what would have happened if he hadn't been wearing it. If my dks are caught riding without a helmet, they get grounded from riding their bike, scooter, or whatever. But, to be honest, since they have always worn one, they don't resist. I also took them, and let them pick out their own. They both picked out really cool Tony Hawk ones.

By Boxzgrl on Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 08:07 pm:

I'm pretty sure it's the law here in CA. A great law at that.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 08:39 pm:

It IS the law here and I have witnessed police officers stopping kids and telling them.
Like Debbie, it is non-negotiable in our house. They wear them for roller-blading, skateboarding, biking & riding their scooters.

By Missbookworm on Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 09:00 pm:

Where I live we have an "all ages" bike helmet law. I've taken to wearing one even though I hate wearing one. I tell my kids "no helmet, no bike" so I follow that rule also. Mine also wear them for roller blading, skateboarding, scooters.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 12:19 am:

No law for helmets, however, it is a law in MY house, that all who ride bikes, wear helmets! This includes the adults. Nothing burns me more than kids with helmets, while adults ride bare-headed.

By Kaye on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 08:28 am:

I don't wear a helmet when I bike. Mostly because the one I bought for me ended up being a better fit for my daughter and her old one was too small. That being said, we ride on sidewalks, not very fast and not very often, so it isn't worth the money to go buy a new one. I guess I feel like I make the kids wear one because they are likely to fall, they ride fast and goof around. For me it is like wearing a seatbelt on a golf cart.

By Colette on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 09:28 am:

Dh is an avid road bike rider and a mountain bike racer. I have seen way to many bike accidents - and have seen what can happen even with a helmet - there is no way my dk's are allowed to ride without helmets and they've been told that if I ever find out they are riding without a helmet I will sell their bikes.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 12:19 pm:

But Kaye, you never know what COULD happen. Something unexpected and unpredictable. You only get one brain, and you should keep it protected.

When I was 15, I was riding across a railroad track and fell. I hit my head hard enough to black out for a moment and see stars. It only takes a second. I was not wearing a helmet, then. Of course, since I've been wearing a helmet, I've never hit my head again, but I still never ride without one.

By Tunnia on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 12:59 pm:

Yes, it's a law here although I don't think it should be, but I guess my beliefs on that subject would be better suited for the debate board so I'll leave them off here. That said, not only do my dk's wear their helmets, but dh and I wear helmets when riding as well because it is the law, it is safer for us all and dh and I feel it's important to model the behavior we expect from our children.

By Dramamamma on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 02:18 pm:

http://www.helmets.org/mandator.htm

interesting link. Brendan wears one but never knew it was the law.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 03:10 pm:

Wisconsin
Port Washington Under 17 1997

Only in one community, in WI? LOL! Should be more places.

Although, mandatory helmet laws, only means a kid is wearing one, it doesn't mean that it's being worn properly. A helmet with the straps flopping in the breeze, isn't going to help much and a helmet on the handle bars, isn't going to help much. Also, a helmet placed way far back on one's head, so your forehead is bare, isn't going to help much.

So, how do we go about teaching people the right way to wear a helmet?

By Tayjar on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 03:35 pm:

I know the man in this story. It has convinced me that no matter where I am riding, I will always wear my helmet.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/09/03/health/doc46d30d2c6069a567007953.txt

By Tayjar on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 03:43 pm:

I would also encourage schools and pta's to contact your local children's hospital regarding bike helmets. Our local hospital has a program where they give away so many helmets free each year. Last year, they came to our grade school and measured every child's head and then came back a few weeks later and gave every kid a free helmet and taught them how to use it.

Then, the parents club set up a reward system. They would monitor kids riding to school and give them a reward for wearing their helmets. They would drive around town and the countryside and if they saw a kid wearing a helmet, they stopped and gave them a reward. The reward was simple - an extra recess, a free ice cream cone, candy from the store, etc.

By Colette on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 03:45 pm:

Ds was riding his bike and the tire blew out. He needed stitches in his face, but it would have been a lot worse if he didn't have his helmet on.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 04:54 pm:

That reminds me. Emily fell off a horse, at horse camp last year and something on her riding helmet is broken, so we need to buy her a new one, before she goes again, this summer.

By Reds9298 on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 04:54 pm:

Plenty of our family think we are way overprotective going with the helmets, which is crazy to me. DD also wears elbow and knee pads, but I don't expect her to forever. DH and I agreed that almost every scar we have on our arms or legs was from riding a bike when we were little. I can't imagine that kind of damage to my head.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 06:26 pm:

I have a scar on my right elbow, from a bike fall, too! LOL!

By Annie2 on Friday, March 7, 2008 - 11:15 pm:

We live in between two cul-de-sacs so there is no through traffic. If the kids want to ride their bikes/skateboards a few houses down they do not wear helmets but if they are horsing around on the ramp or trying tricks, then they wear helmets.
When they were little they rode with helmets everytime.