Here is a tale of two cities, one in the real world and another in the Bizarro World; one that rewards for helmet use and another that considers punishing accident victims for not wearing a helmet.
The first is Salina, Kansas, where firefighters are handing out candy coupons from a local grocer to bicyclists who are wearing helmets. Nice and positive.
The other is a suburb of Toronto where police are considering charges against a 16-year-old cyclist for not wearing a helmet after she was struck by a truck on Sunday. First they need to interview her, but she's still unconscious.
No charges vs. driver
According to the Barrie Examiner, the unidentified girl suffers from a head injury and a broken pelvis. She is hospitalized in Toronto. Police said the girl was listening to an iPod (and not wearing a helmet) when she crossed into the path of the truck.
“The driver is not at fault – the cyclist is at fault,” (police Sgt. Dave) Goodbrand said, adding no charges will be laid against the driver.
However, the possibility exists that the girl could be charged for not wearing a helmet.
Goodbrand said this is a prime example of how a helmet could have prevented injury. But some young people think helmets aren't “cool,” he added.
Maybe instead of considering charges against a young cyclist suffering head trauma, police should enlist the help of the schools to make a greater effort to teach bicycling safety.
Meanwhile, a neighbor told the Examiner reporter that the intersection is dangerous and should be a four-way stop. Also, trees around the intersection obstruct views and should be removed.
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