Helmet exemption goes against safety

LETTERS

Re: Lethbridge Herald, Friday, March 30, “Alberta takes lid off Sikh cyclists.”

While visiting Lethbridge, I read the above article. Here is my response.

The Alberta government has bowed to the demands from a Sikh pressure group, agreeing to exempt them from riding motorcycles with helmets. British Columbia and Manitoba have unfortunately capitulated to similar bills.

In 2013 and 2016, then MLA Jasmeet Singh introduced a private member’s bill in Ontario, but it was turned down. In response to Alberta’s capitulation, the Sikh Motorcycle Club of Ontario issued a statement; “We call upon the government of Ontario to set aside its unfounded subjugation. It is unfortunate that the Liberal party of Ontario under Premier Kathleen Wynne remains adamant on its stand to deny Sikhs this basic right.”

“Unfounded subjugation”; “basic right”? Before knuckling under, perhaps the Notley government should have done some basic research.

“High number of deadly motorcycle crashes ‘very alarming,’ says OPP;” 30 fatal collisions on Ontario roads so far in 2017 (Hailey Salvian, CBC News, Aug. 24, 2017).

In the United States, NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Traffic Safety Facts 2016, estimates that helmets saved 1,859 motorcyclists' lives in 2016, and that 802 more lives could have been saved if motorcyclists had worn helmets.

A University of Michigan study found that after the state allowed motorcyclists 21 and older to ride without helmets, their fatality rate was double to those who wore helmets. U-M study: Fatalities double for motorcyclists without helmets (Detroit Free Press, Sept. 7, 2016).

Rather that inflicting “unfounded subjugation” and denying a “basic right,” perhaps the Ontario government was concerned about public safety — a fundamental responsibility of government for all its citizens. Government decisions must be based on fact. As leader of a federal party, Mr. Singh should understand that.

Now that the law has been changed to mollify a religious group, insurance premiums of helmetless riders should be adjusted to reflect the increase in hospital and medical costs that will follow.

John Paterson Victoria, B.C.