Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Health
House of Commons
Ottawa

Motorcycle Safety

Dear Minister:

The article entitled “Motorcycle Safety” will appear in the October issue of the Canada Safety Council’s newsletter Safety Canada. It addresses the effectiveness of training and helmet laws in preventing injuries to motorcyclists.

About 80 percent of new riders in this country take the Canada Safety Council’s motorcycle training program Gearing Up, which was developed over 30 years ago with seed funding from the federal government. In addition, motorcyclists are required by provincial law to wear a helmet. Due in large part to these two factors, Canada’s motorcycle injuries and fatalities are dramatically lower than those in the U.S.

With the repeal of motorcycle helmet laws in many states, injuries and fatalities have risen significantly across the border. Most recently, an evaluation of the repeal of Florida’s all-rider helmet law was published. That report, summarized in our article, describes the increased medical costs and loss of lives following the repeal of that state’s helmet law.

Canadians who ride motorcycles when visiting the U.S. may be inclined not to wear a helmet, following the “lead” of American riders. Those who suffer serious head injuries as a result will become charges of the Canadian medical system. For that reason, we are raising this concern to Health Canada.

Sincerely,

Emile-J. Therien
President, Canada Safety Council

c.c. Honourable Jean Lapierre, PC., M.P., Minister of Transport
Provincial/Territorial Premiers
Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA)