Letter: Helmets essential for motorcyclists

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 | 9:37 a.m.

I read Sun editor Brian Greenspun's column supporting the law requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets. I also read the letters from people criticizing the law.

Well, I'm here to tell you that the late Gov. Mike O'Callaghan, who pushed for the law while serving in the 1970s, saved the lives of myself and my son. We were taking a camping trip on our motorcycle shortly after the law went into effect. Along the way, my son suggested we take off our helmets because it was getting pretty warm. Luckily for us, I said no.

A short time later the unthinkable happened. I went around a curve on a gravel road and lost control. We began to slide. The last thing I saw was that we were heading for about a 15-foot drop off the road and onto some rocks. When I woke up, I saw my son a short distance away. He was unconscious and had a big gash in the side of his helmet. I crawled over to him, woke him up, and he was all right.

After five other riders stopped to help us retrieve our bike (it was hanging from a rock ledge by its back kickstand), we walked the bike to our campsite and then checked ourselves all over to make sure nothing was broken. We spent the night and then rode home the next morning. If it hadn't been for the helmet law, neither I nor my son would be here today.

WILL DULL