Oakwood's Approach to Helmet Promotion:
Police Educate and Encourage

Summary: The City of Oakwood, Ohio, as taken a unique approach to helmet promotion. The police are engaged to educate the public.

RESOLUTION

BY_______________________

NO ______________

AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING BICYCLE HELMETS AND TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS RIDING BICYCLES TO WEAR SUCH PROTECTIVE GEAR

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Oakwood is concerned that minor bicyclists suffer injuries which could be avoided or lessened if the bicyclists were protected by helmets;

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Oakwood finds that the death and disability of minor bicyclist accident victims is a serious threat to the public health, welfare and safety of the people of this City;

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Oakwood finds that bicyclist accident victims who wear protective helmets are substantially less likely to suffer fatal or disabling head injuries than unprotected bicyclists involved in accidents;

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Oakwood finds that national statistics indicate that fewer than 15 per cent of child bicyclists wear helmets; and

WHEREAS, it is the goal of the Council of the City of Oakwood to reduce the incidence and severity of head injuries to child bicyclists.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OAKWOOD, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO, THAT:

SECTION I.

The City Manager is hereby directed to develop a program to educate the citizenry regarding the dangers of riding bicycles without protective head gear and to develop a program of incentives to motivate parents to ensure that their children wear proper head gear when bicycling and to motivate child bicyclists to wear such head gear.

The City Manager is further directed to develop a program to educate parents who neglect their parental responsibility to ensure safe cycling by their children and to educate children to wear proper head gear when bicycling.

SECTION II.

Said program shall be implemented by the Division of Police of the City of Oakwood.

When officers on duty observe minor bicyclists wearing protective helmets with the chin strap appropriately fastened under the chin, they may wave the child over and give him/her an emblem of responsible cycling;

When officers on duty observe minors bicycling without properly fitted protective head gear, they may wave the bicyclist over, ask the child to give his/her name and address, and shall inform the child of the hazards of riding without a helmet;

If this is a first incident, the Division of Police of the City of Oakwood may send a letter with an informational brochure to the parents of said child encouraging the parents to purchase proper head gear for their child and to ensure its use;

If this is a subsequent offense, the parents and the child may be issued an invitation to appear at the Division of Police of the City of Oakwood with proper head gear to attend an educational program on bicycling safety in the interests of reducing the significant threat to the public health, welfare and safety posed by bicycling without protective head gear.

In addition to the sanctions herein imposed, any officer may exercise the rights of the City under the provisions of §373.10 of the Oakwood Municipal Code if he/she believes that said child's failure to wear a helmet repeatedly constitutes a violation of any provision of Chapter 373.

SECTION III.

"Proper head gear" is defined as a helmet fitted to the size of the bicyclist and which meets or exceeds the standards of the American National Standards Institute or of the Snell Memorial Foundation for helmets manufactured before March 1, 1999; and shall meet or exceed the standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Institute for helmets manufactured after March 1, 1999.

SECTION IV.

This resolution shall take effect immediately.

PASSED BY THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF OAKWOOD THIS ________ DAY OF _________, _________.


________________________________________
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF OAKWOOD


ATTEST:


______________________________
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
TO THE CLERK:


________________________
CITY ATTORNEY