The annual conflict between highway safety and personal freedom has begun at the State Capitol. In 1967, the Missouri Legislature started requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. Motorcycle groups have fought that law ever since, and freedom of choice has been the standard behind which they have fought. For the last several years they’ve focused on letting people 21 and older go without a helmet, if they want. The pros say only 41 motorcyclists were killed in Missouri, out of 1,200 traffic fatalities, that only one-tenth of one-percent of traffic crashes involved motorcycles. But motorcycle safety experts say it’s not the younger riders who are in greatest danger – it’s the baby boomers, the ones who want to go without helmets, that are the biggest casualties. Senator Jon Dolan’s committee has taken no action yet.
