you need a helmet.
On the bunny hills, I'm not so sure.
Posted on 01/26/2008 7:36:44 AM PST by Mr. Brightside
Michigan lawmakers push helmet requirement for skiers, snowboarders
by CLAY TAYLOR | Capital News Service Saturday
January 26, 2008, 9:34 AM
LANSING - Downhill skiers and snowboarders without head protection may find a hefty fine waiting for them at the bottom of the slope.
A new bill by Rep. Bob Constan calling for mandatory helmets comes fast on the heels of a fatal skiing accident in December.
Clare Dougherty, 13, of Canton Township died from a head injury on Shanty Creek Resort's Schuss Mountain in Bellaire. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center on Christmas Day.
Authorities said a helmet could have prevented her death.
"We can't say for sure in any one instance what the outcome would have been, but for certain accidents there is no question it would help," said Jim Austin, the hospital's administrator. "It's just like wearing seat belts. They save lives, just not all lives."
Safety is the bill's primary concern, Constan said.
"We require that people wear helmets in other situations," Constan said. "People knowing that helmets are available is not enough."
Constan said the bill, which has support from the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights Ski Clubs, was inspired by constituents who had family members injured while skiing and snowboarding.
The bill calls for a $100 fine for those caught without helmets, but Constan said that fines would not be strictly enforced.
"I don't want to see someone with a $100 fine who's an experienced skier," Constan said, "but the time has come to encourage people to wear helmets when skiing."
Co-sponsors include Reps. Coleman Young, D-Detroit, and Aldo Vagnozzi, D-Farmington Hills.
Most of Michigan's ski resorts - including Apple Mountain Resort, Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands, Crystal Mountain, Nub's Nob Ski Area and Snowsnake Ski and Golf - provide helmets to rent for about $5-$10 a day.
There is industry opposition to the idea.
In a statement, Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain said while helmet use is encouraged, "we don't think this new legislation is the way to go. We believe that helmets are a good idea but not necessarily for all skiing and riding situations."
That sentiment was echoed by John Cleary, general manager of Snowsnake in Harrison.
"I think it should be left up to the individual," Cleary said. "We recommend it, but we believe it's a matter of personal preference."
He said most skiers at Snowsnake wear helmets, and anyone participating in freestyle events must wear one.
He said he isn't sure how often Snowsnake's skiers suffer head injuries.
"It's not a real frequent thing," he said. "It's hard to put a number on it."
A report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that head injuries account for 14 percent of skiing and snowboarding accidents, as well as 56 percent of related deaths.
No other states have laws that require helmet use, according to the National Ski Areas Association, a trade organization for ski area owners and operators headquartered in Colorado.
The association says that on average 38 people died each year for the past 10 years from skiing or snowboarding accidents. An average of 42 people suffered serious injuries, which includes head injuries.
NSAA President Michael Berry said that it's most important to encourage dialogue about the responsibility of making educated decisions regarding helmet use, rather than making helmet use mandatory.
"You shouldn't put one on and think that's all you need to do," Berry said.
He recommends that skiers wear helmets, but ski as if they're not.
The bill, which would amend a 1962 law that outlines basic skiing regulations, is under review by the House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee.Authorities said a helmet could have prevented her death.
"We can't say for sure in any one instance what the outcome would have been, but for certain accidents there is no question it would help," said Jim Austin, the hospital's administrator. "It's just like wearing seat belts. They save lives, just not all lives."
Safety is the bill's primary concern, Constan said.
"We require that people wear helmets in other situations," Constan said. "People knowing that helmets are available is not enough."
Constan said the bill, which has support from the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights Ski Clubs, was inspired by constituents who had family members injured while skiing and snowboarding.
The bill calls for a $100 fine for those caught without helmets, but Constan said that fines would not be strictly enforced.
"I don't want to see someone with a $100 fine who's an experienced skier," Constan said, "but the time has come to encourage people to wear helmets when skiing."
Co-sponsors include Reps. Coleman Young, D-Detroit, and Aldo Vagnozzi, D-Farmington Hills.
Most of Michigan's ski resorts - including Apple Mountain Resort, Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands, Crystal Mountain, Nub's Nob Ski Area and Snowsnake Ski and Golf - provide helmets to rent for about $5-$10 a day.
There is industry opposition to the idea.
In a statement, Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain said while helmet use is encouraged, "we don't think this new legislation is the way to go. We believe that helmets are a good idea but not necessarily for all skiing and riding situations."
That sentiment was echoed by John Cleary, general manager of Snowsnake in Harrison.
"I think it should be left up to the individual," Cleary said. "We recommend it, but we believe it's a matter of personal preference."
He said most skiers at Snowsnake wear helmets, and anyone participating in freestyle events must wear one.
He said he isn't sure how often Snowsnake's skiers suffer head injuries.
"It's not a real frequent thing," he said. "It's hard to put a number on it."
A report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that head injuries account for 14 percent of skiing and snowboarding accidents, as well as 56 percent of related deaths.
No other states have laws that require helmet use, according to the National Ski Areas Association, a trade organization for ski area owners and operators headquartered in Colorado.
The association says that on average 38 people died each year for the past 10 years from skiing or snowboarding accidents. An average of 42 people suffered serious injuries, which includes head injuries.
NSAA President Michael Berry said that it's most important to encourage dialogue about the responsibility of making educated decisions regarding helmet use, rather than making helmet use mandatory.
"You shouldn't put one on and think that's all you need to do," Berry said.
He recommends that skiers wear helmets, but ski as if they're not.
The bill, which would amend a 1962 law that outlines basic skiing regulations, is under review by the House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee.
I’ve seen people take nasty falls walking down the sidewalk. Helmets for everybody! When you leave your house, put it on. In fact, wear one all the time!
Don't forget to wear a condom!
And he is a republican.
The biggest mystery of all: how did Rep. Bob Constan grow up without any understanding whatsoever of the concept of “liberty”?
I’d like to introduce an amendment to also require helmet use while participating in a session of the Michigan State Legislature.
We had a 7th grader die last year at my son’s school due to head injury from skiing, but I haven’t heard any cry for mandatory helmets. Most people accept the risk as part of skiing.
So is Mike Huckabee, allegedly.
I would like to walk out on the lake and see if these guys are having any luck icefishing. Unfortunately I don’t have any approved ice walking armor.
It's hard to tell anymore.
My mistake. The guy is a democrat. It’s just so hard to tell anymore. Both parties come up with some anti-liberty hating laws and regulations.
You know the first time I saw the scene in the Matrix where Neo goes through the looking glass and wakes up in his "pod" I thought it was the most paranoid bit of movie making ever.
Now I wonder if the Wachowski Brothers have some secret time machine and went and scouted the future for real.
I swear the nanny-state-libs will have us all in little pods to protect us from the dangers of life before its over with.
For your socialist state of MI ping list.
In the early 80’s, my cousin skied into a tree. A helmet wouldn’t have made any difference, he died of massive chest injuries.
Let’s just call it what it is: Acceptable risk. Maybe there's too much “there must be someone we can blame! This must be someone’s fault!”
On the bunny hills, I'm not so sure.
Pretty soon we’ll all have to wear goalie outfits twenty four seven and ride short busses....
DEE DE DE!!!
Is that the bear slayer I know?
Al those arrogant pricks said, “Great. It’ll save me a nickel.” when they passed the motorcycle helmet laws.
What goes around comes around. ROTFL!
Resort operators take note: there are millions of other skiers who feel the same way. It is in your best interest to fight this buttinsky-ism with all your might.
Michigan lawmakers push helmet requirement for skiers, snowboarders....
the Michigan lawmakers also push for taxes on helmet for skiers, snowboarders....
“First, they came for the motorcyclists...but I wasn’t a motorcyclist....”
LOL at the idea that Michigan has big enough ski hills that anyone needs a helmet there.
I would guess that about 70% of skiers in the US already wear helmets. In europe the number is much smaller. Maybe 10%. I never wore one until I saw a skier get killed by a snowboarder near Cordoba a few years ago. The snowboarder came over a rise and hit the skier directly in the head with the board. The first year I wore it, it saved me from getting my head sliced open after a collision with another skier. One of our edges from a lose ski cut a big slice into the front of my helmet. They are also great for keeping your head much warmer and being able to stay out for a couple more runs.
Helmets are mandatory with our family, whether we are snowboarding, biking or riding dirt bikes (a helmet is just one of the many pieces of gear we wear while riding dirt bikes).
I have seen too many out of control people on the slopes to not strap on a helmet. It is better than nothing.
Nanny State Ping!!!!!!!!
That and too many people who have decided they get to decide what is and what is ot acceptable risk.
These Legislators will need a helmet after we here in Michigan get a big piss elm club and start putting knots on their heads faster than they can rub them! The State is broke and I guess this is just another revenue gathering move, using the “nanny state” to promote it! Can’t wait until they pass a law requiring bulletproof vests for hunting!
In WV they passed a helmet law for ATV riding. Surprise, the number of deaths went up this year.
This stuff is getting scary.
And of course the PTB will make up some lame excuse.
I don’t disagree with the wearing of helmets or seatbelts, I disagree with such wear being mandatory.
How about a mandatory drug test.
Getting scary???????
We ride, we decide.
all private automobile occupans must be required to wear helmets.
ALL of them.
IF you don’t want to wear a helmet, take the bus.
(nanny state sarcasm off)
I'd bet the police lobby will put a stop to that idea.
Atlanta has the largest ski club in the country that isn't in a ski area so naturally you have to fly to any ski holiday you go on. In all the years I've been skiing I've never heard Michigan mentioned one time as a place to go. I guess it's so good that the natives keep the secret to themselves, hehe.
I went to college in Grand Rapids, and the local ski “hill” is in fact artificial—built on an old garbage dump.
Michigan actually has quite a good skiing tradition with 40 or so ski areas. None of them can compare with mountain resorts of course, but there is plenty of opportunity.
I used to help run a junior high ski club for about 30 years. In fact we went to the same local ski place as the Dearborn ski club mentioned in the story.
That said, I believe that snowboarders ought to wear helmets because they fall very often as falling is in the nature fo that sport. Skiers are less prone to head injuries when falling so helmets aren’t as important. However, it should be voluntary.
How about requiring a muzzle, too?
So much for skiing in Michigan...and I’ve done it many times.
It will be their corporate lawyers who recommend the resorts mandate the wearing of helmets. I'm surprised it hasn't already happened.......
The second biggest is what the hell does Coleman Young (The politician formerly known as JOEL LOVING) know about skiing?
The illegitimate son of Mayor Coleman Young, JOEL LOVING, decided to become a Jr. a few years ago when he got into politics. He figured by changing his name he would then have "name recognition" which would help his political career amongst the idiot massses of Detroit. Looks like it worked.....
Miniscule risk shows it's just another power grab.
I disagree with laws making it mandatory for skiing, as I would for biking. But personally, this is the first yeat I myself am actually considering buying a helmet. So many snowboarders on the mountains and many times they move to their blind backside without even looking. Just too many close calls......
Last year when I wa skiing, they guy behind me fell and his snowboard went flying in front of him, exactly where I was. It hit my skiing pole so hard I thought it cracked it, and proceeded to keep on sailing into the woods. If that had been my head.....
I think I am off to the store......
But how many head injuries? I bet the number was many-fold over that 26.
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