Free statewide webinar focused on bicycle safety programs, and new CA bicycle helmet law changes
WHEN: Thursday, Jan 23, 2020, at 10:30am to 11:55am
RSVP to Gerry Root, CCCSH at rootge@gmail.com.
Focuses or topics of this Jan 23 webinar: There are two parts to this local unintentional injury coalition and program webinar. This is part of a series of on-going webinars hosted by CCCSH, in partnership with CA Department of Public Health Injury and Violence Prevention Branch Kids Plates Local Coalition Development Program:
The two topics covered in this webinar discussion are:
- How did AB 3077 state legislation change the bicycle helmet enforcement law, creating a “fix-it-ticket” for bicycle helmet violations, and what does fix-it-ticket mean, and apply to local bicycle safety
- Showcase and discuss successful local coalition efforts and programs on bicycle safety and bicycle helmet use efforts
Why: Bicycle safety is an important traffic safety issue across California. Part of bicycle safety – coupled with how to ride, maintain and know the rules of the road - is focused on getting all children and youth, and everyone else, to wear their helmet when riding their bicycle. When the CA bicycle helmet law was passed in 1992, sponsored by CCCSH, CAI and Safe Moves, helmet use was estimated to be less than 10%, and bicycle helmet costs were on average $50. In 1990 and 1991 the number of CA ER reported head injuries due to bicycle crashes increased to more than 19,000 per year.
After passage of the 1992 bicycle helmet law helmet pricing dropped to $10-$15, and use among school age children rose to 60% in many CA communities. In the last decade as enforcement resources shifted away from the helmet law, partially due to court fees/fines increasing the bicycle helmet citation from $25 to on average $197, helmet use dropped to less than 20% (school based surveys). CA’s ERs are again reporting annual head injury rates due to bicycle crashes back up to nearly 19,000 a year, from a mid-1990s low of less than 11,000.
The 2018 CCCSH sponsored bicycle helmet enforcement law change (AB 3077/2018) was to make helmet law violations a fix-it-ticket allowing the citation to be waived if the child successfully completes a bicycle safety course and has a helmet the parent will attest the child will wear. There were two objectives in this legislation: give local bicycle safety and traffic safety groups and programs new increased relationships with local traffic enforcement (who can now issue fix-it-tickets rather than only high fine tickets); and support increased reason for and support for bicycle safety courses.
For questions or RSVP send either Gerry Root or Steve Barrow, CCCSH an email at rootge@gmail.com or scbarrow88@gmail.com.
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