Save Your Brain and Change The Law To All Ages

The Neuroscience Club at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey supports mandatory helmet laws covering all age groups because we believe they are needed to raise awareness that helmets save lives, in the same way that seat belt laws and smoke detector requirements were used to inform the public that those safety devices were necessary.

Many riders and parents do not know that they need a helmet, and while laws force compliance they more importantly educate the public.

We also believe that most riders regard helmets as a fashion item rather than as a safety tool, and like any other fashion this view will eventually wither. We support efforts to improve the safety of the cycling, skating, and skateboarding environment and we do not believe that wearing a helmet causes riders to take additional risks.

We are keenly aware that safer cycling, skating, and skateboarding includes all riders on the streets, but we do not believe that helmets discourage these activities in the US. Since bicycles on a public road are vehicles, we believe that the operator has the rights and obligations of vehicle users in our ever-more-populated and outrageously unsafe road environment, so requiring a helmet is as reasonable as requiring a helmet on a motorcycle rider or requiring seatbelt usage in cars.

We support provisions for medical exemptions based on a doctor's certification or religious requirements for headgear. Keeping our community safe is our number one priority and we will pursue all available means to achieve this end.