Resolution 11184=
WHEREAS, we are concerned about the enormous financial
CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 11184
URGING CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE TO PASS ASSEMBLY
BILL 36 TO REQUIRE ALL CALIFORNIA MOTORCYCLISTS
TO WEAR APPROVED SAFETY HELMETS
WHEREAS, in 1984 alone the California Highway Patrol
statistics show that 27,344 motorcyclists were injured and of
these 833 were killed and 3,766 had severe injuries; and
WHEREAS, the average hospital bill of an injured
motorcyclist is conservatively estimated at more than $17,000 per
individual, and "indirect costs" such as lost wages and physical
rehabilitation usually are double the direct costs; and
WHEREAS, California taxpayers are paying more than 80
percent of the costs incurred by injured motorcyclists; and
WHEREAS, motorcyclist injuries cost the taxpayers more
than $64 million a year for hospital bills alone, based on the
number of injuries in 1984; and
WHEREAS, in California motorcyclists account for only
three percent of all passenger-carrying vehicles but are involved
in 12 percent of crashes causing injury; and
WHEREAS, per mile, a motorcyclist is more than 10 times
more likely to die in a crash than an automobile occupant; and
WHEREAS, unhelmeted riders have more than 2.5 times as
many critical or fatal head injuries as riders who wear helmets;
and
Jfl , cost to taxpayers and the unmeasurable emotional cost to victims
in loss of human lives and suffering caused by motorcycle crashes;
17,1 and
WHEREAS, a mandatory helmet law in California would
reduce motorcycle rider deaths and save the taxpayers millions of
dollars annually;
— J
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City
of Alameda that said Council does hereby urge the California
legislature to pass AB 36 to modify the existing state vehicle
code to require all California motorcyclists to wear approved
safety helmets.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution was duly and regularly adopted and passed by
the Council of the City of Alameda in adjourned regular
meeting assembled on the 28th of April, 1987,
by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Corica, Lucas, Monsef and
President Diament - 4.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Councilmember Hanna - 1.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed the official seal of said City this 29th day of
April, 1987.
City C
rk of the City of Alameda