Push for state helmet law to return
S.C. Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, said he will take a stab at passing a helmet law in next year's legislative session.
With motorcycle use - and, in turn, fatal crashes - on the rise in South Carolina, Edge said his thoughts on a helmet law have "evolved" over the past few years.
Edge said he has heard anecdotally - from hospital CEOs, ER doctors and his brother, Horry County Coroner Robert Edge - that motorcyclists who do not use helmets suffer much more severe head injuries, which leads to overwhelming medical bills, if the patient is lucky enough to survive.
"The costs get up so high that you wind up seeing a lot of people just can’t pay the bills and ultimately our health care premiums go up to cover the difference," he said. "It affects all of us, whether people want to admit it or not."
A survey of local businesses completed last week showed that a majority of local businesses would support a helmet law - 65.3 percent said they think the state should have a helmet law for all riders, 19.2 percent were neutral on the topic and 15.4 percent said they disagreed, according to the survey taken by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. (Full survey results - MS Word document)
Edge said that later in the year he will work on building support for the law.
"I think it will be very hard to pass a law but I look forward to giving it a good try," he said.
Now, motorcyclists 21 and over are not required to wear helmets in South Carolina.
This is a no-brainer. We obviously need
a law requiring a motorcyclist to wear
a helmet on the open road.
Posted by: Randle Alford | July 21, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Would be good to banish smoking (help get rid of lung cancer) and ban alcohol (cut down on fatalities with drunk drivers.
I wander what the numbers are for head injuries verses drunk driver fatalities, and lung cancer deaths.
Posted by: David | July 21, 2008 at 02:53 PM
I have to wear a seat belt just makes sense to make riders wear helmets don't ya think?
Posted by: slippingby | July 21, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Randal, they SHOULD ban smoking and drinking, it would tremendously cut down the deaths and poor health.
Why on earth would you smoke or drink, is your life that pathetic that you needs those crutches?
Posted by: Doctor Razz | July 21, 2008 at 04:56 PM
It is my CHOICE to wear a helmet or not, not the government! This is my personal freedom. GO ABATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Hope | July 21, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Why stop with the bikers?
Why not require people that ride in convertable cars to wear a helmet?
What about people driving golf carts?
What about the guy that rides on the back of a sanitation truck?
What about the farmer on a tractor?
What about the little child being pushed in a stroller?
Why can't we save everyone, not just the bikers?
Posted by: Geezer | July 21, 2008 at 05:20 PM
I would think that with Tracy Edges past immoral transgressions and all the skeletons in his closet he would be staying out of the anti Gay,anti biker, anti black, anti friendly Grandstand campaigns. The Grandstand needs new leaders that are going to create a healthy tourist industry and not add fuel to the fires.
Posted by: DEEP THROAT | July 21, 2008 at 05:39 PM
I don't think anyone should have to wear a helmet. I don't like having to wear a seat belt either. If the argument is against higher health premiums, fine fat people, close down McDonalds, ban extreme sports, shoot smokers on site, shun drinkers, and make anything from high calorie gum to being a couch-potato illegal.
Posted by: JP | July 21, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Im glad somebody on the north end is having courage to speak out. If the THE MAYOR of NMB has her way the city of NMB will be swamped with bikers cause she doesn't have the courage to stand up for herself (in many ways).
Posted by: NMB resident | July 21, 2008 at 08:09 PM
DEEP THROAT: You're real brave hiding behind a keyboard to throw out accusations like that.
Posted by: Waterdog | July 21, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Mr. Edge isn't concerned in the least bit about biker safety. This is his lame attempt to start the helmet law bs again because he, like so many other idiots in Myrtle, think a helmet law will stop bikers from coming to the rallies. It won't! I go to rallies in states that require helmets and I wear the damn helmet! No biker will stay away from a rally because the state has a helmet law! Never have and never will. Try again Mr Edge..we're not falling for your little game. We will fight any attempt by you are anyone else at the state house...just like we did the last time.
Posted by: Mr.Dixon | July 21, 2008 at 08:35 PM
DIXON: Edge didn't say he was trying to keep bikers away sort of like your point that it doesn't stop you from riding in areas where they have a helmet law. Thats the trouble with you bikers. you immediately attack anyone who challenges your way of thinking. Trying to save lives is not a little game. Now, go play with your whips and biker chains.
Posted by: Waterdog | July 21, 2008 at 09:14 PM
What goes into your thinker comes out as a no brainer and this one I like. It doesn't matter about the bikers, what counts is people's lives. Why are they so offended because we now hav someone in NMB trying to protect their lives as well as others. It's really sickening to see some nice biker lying dead on the street when a helmet could have saved his brain from splashing al over the pavement. Go 4 it. Good thinking.
Posted by: Beachgirlie's | July 22, 2008 at 02:30 AM
What does URL mean?
Posted by: Beachgirlie's | July 22, 2008 at 02:31 AM
If the THE MAYOR of NMB has her way the city of NMB will be swamped with friendly bikers and smart business men who think in terms of the big picture. Hopefully she will not join in the insanity of Myrtle Beach and there corrupt little Gestapo who has done nothing but destroy the reputation of the grand strand. Her family consist of smart, honest, hardworking people. They have something that the Myrtle Beach political hacks do not have. Integrity. I am sure she will be able to bring the rallies under control on the north end. She seems to know how to talk and how to work with people. She will not go off half cocked the way tom chestnuts did when he blame the college students death on the Bikers. Her job is to protect the charter and image of North Myrtle beach first and help resolve this conflict second. If Myrtle Beach goes down the tubes on there own, then so be it. You reap what you sew.
Posted by: REALITYRON | July 22, 2008 at 03:27 AM
Marilyn Hatley may have the ONLY integrity in that entire family. By the way, it was Mike Chestnut, not Tom.
Posted by: Waterdog | July 22, 2008 at 09:50 AM
"...think a helmet law will stop bikers from coming to the rallies."
Some have already said they would stop coming if that were to happen.
Posted by: Nick | July 22, 2008 at 10:18 AM