Quarterback accident stirs debate over helmet law

Wednesday, June 14th 2006, 6:10 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Talk of Oklahoma's lack of helmet laws was stirred after Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was seriously injured during a motorcycle accident.

Roethlisberger wasn't wearing a helmet last night when his Suzuki Hayabusa collided with a Chrysler New Yorker. He was hospitalized Monday night with a broken jaw, a broken nose and other injuries.

Rider Mike Owens wears a helmet on his Harley Davidson, but says he thinks wearing a helmet should remain a choice.

Former Oklahoma Senator Ben Brown said it would take a federal mandate to get a law requiring adults in Oklahoma to wear helmets on motorcycles.

Brown authored a bill about ten years ago that would've required Oklahomans 18 and older to wear helmets. Currently, only children 17 and younger have to wear helmets on bikes.

Statistics from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office show that in 2004, there were 79 motorcycle fatalities. 61 of those people were not wearing a helmet.