G
Guest
·Please forgive me if there's a more appropriate place to put this on the site.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2004
51 PERCENT FOR BUSH, 48 PERCENT FOR KERRY,
50 PERCENT FOR MOTORCYCLE HELMETS
2004 Motorcycle “Helmet Challenge” Yields Positive Results
ST. PAUL — Motorcycle helmets have an approval rating better than most presidential candidates, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
In September, five riders volunteered for the 2004 Helmet Challenge sponsored by DPS, the Rider Wearhouse and Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly. The participants, identified as non-helmet-wearers, tried out new, full-faced motorcycle helmets for 21 days. Based on the participants’ responses, the Challenge yielded a 50 percent “conversion rate.” The results were:
Two volunteers claimed they liked the helmet and wanted to wear it all the time.
Two volunteers did not change their minds, but stated they would wear a helmet at least some of the time.
One volunteer said he would wear it about half the time.
All five riders chose to keep the helmet after the Challenge period.
Kathy Swanson, director of the Office of Traffic Safety, says, “These riders went from wearing a helmet seldom or never to wearing the helmet about half of the time. Many riders don’t wear helmets because they think they are uncomfortable, but the message here is clear: Try it, you might like it.”
Voluntary helmet use in Minnesota is estimated at 36 percent, but officials believe that number could be higher if riders were better informed.
Challenge participants chose to wear helmets because they preferred the insulation from the elements on colder days and longer trips and the added feeling of safety. Participants who chose to not wear helmets cited hot weather, short trips and self-image as factors. A majority of the riders said family or peer pressure influenced their decision.
***For a copy of the full report, contact Pat Hahn at [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2004
51 PERCENT FOR BUSH, 48 PERCENT FOR KERRY,
50 PERCENT FOR MOTORCYCLE HELMETS
2004 Motorcycle “Helmet Challenge” Yields Positive Results
ST. PAUL — Motorcycle helmets have an approval rating better than most presidential candidates, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
In September, five riders volunteered for the 2004 Helmet Challenge sponsored by DPS, the Rider Wearhouse and Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly. The participants, identified as non-helmet-wearers, tried out new, full-faced motorcycle helmets for 21 days. Based on the participants’ responses, the Challenge yielded a 50 percent “conversion rate.” The results were:
Two volunteers claimed they liked the helmet and wanted to wear it all the time.
Two volunteers did not change their minds, but stated they would wear a helmet at least some of the time.
One volunteer said he would wear it about half the time.
All five riders chose to keep the helmet after the Challenge period.
Kathy Swanson, director of the Office of Traffic Safety, says, “These riders went from wearing a helmet seldom or never to wearing the helmet about half of the time. Many riders don’t wear helmets because they think they are uncomfortable, but the message here is clear: Try it, you might like it.”
Voluntary helmet use in Minnesota is estimated at 36 percent, but officials believe that number could be higher if riders were better informed.
Challenge participants chose to wear helmets because they preferred the insulation from the elements on colder days and longer trips and the added feeling of safety. Participants who chose to not wear helmets cited hot weather, short trips and self-image as factors. A majority of the riders said family or peer pressure influenced their decision.
***For a copy of the full report, contact Pat Hahn at [email protected]
