Tulsa Police Urge Motorcyclists To Wear Helmets

Tulsa police say a motorcyclist's helmet may have saved his life when he hit a truck Wednesday morning on Highway 169. Officers say the accident offers a timely reminder about bike safety.

In Oklahoma we know that it is a biker's right to choose to wear a helmet. Police said for safety reasons they should.

The shop owners at Brookside Motorcycle Company say a helmet with multiple layers of padding and protection improves a biker's chances of surviving an accident by 90 percent.

4/23/2014 Related Story: U.S. Highway 169 Northbound Reopened After Motorcycle Wreck

Police say the driver of a banged up motorcycle lost control, then hit a truck on Highway 169 Wednesday morning and was thrown off the motorcycle. It's something that paramedics and police see all too often.

Officer Craig Murray with Tulsa Police, said, "Weekend before last we had two fatalities in Tulsa, both motorcyclist both without a helmet on."

For Wednesday's crash, police believe a helmet made a huge difference.

"The idea that helmets, like a seatbelt, is there to help save your life," Murray said.

Getting bikers to wear one is sometimes a tough sale in a state without helmet laws.

"I don't believe in helmet laws. I don't need someone to tell me to wear a helmet it is my head," said Paul Rogers with Brookside Motorcycles.

Yet as the owner of Brookside Motorcycle Company, with every bike sale, Rogers pushes practical safety.

"Buy the helmet that you'll wear. Regardless of your level of experience, if you are like me and have done this for over 30 years, or if it's your first year, it is the most important piece of protection that you can have," Rogers said.

Equally as important is knowing, and following, the law. Rogers encourages everyone to save the bike tricks for Tulsa's dirt tracks.

"When you are that guy that is zig-zagging in and out of traffic, or going down 169 on your back tire, it's that small percentage of people that make it look bad for everybody else," said Rogers.

He said you need to replace your helmet every three years because it stretches and becomes ill fitted. If you get in to an accident and your helmet hits the pavement, it's time to get another.

TPD offers a free motorcycle safety class.