Legilsation Aims to Ease Tennessee Motorcycle Helmet Law

A bill to ease Tennessee's motorcycle helmet law moves one step closer to becoming law. The Senate already passed legislation that would allow riders over 21 to choose whether or not they wear a helmet. A House committee just approved a similar measure. Right now all motorcycle passengers and drivers must wear an approved helmet. The Tennessee Department of Safety says bike fatalities will climb if fewer riders wear helmets. Lt. Christie Phillips with the Tennessee Department of Safety says, "The Department of Safety supports having a helmet law because it is the safest piece of equipment to wear and we are in the safety business and we want to save lives." And not just any helmet will do. "They have to keep in mind that they do have to wear a properly fitted helmet that fits snug on their head and that's always fastened for the ride and it needs to be DOT approved," says Lt. Phillips. She says the number of deadly motorcycle wrecks doubled in the last seven years...jumping from 66 in 2000 to 134 last year. That might be partly because there are more biker riders on Tennessee roads, says Phillips.

Here are some Motorcycle Safety Tips from the Department of Public Safety.

• Always wear a helmet.
• Get proper training and attend training classes annually.
• Avoid tailgating and riding between lanes of slow moving or stopped traffic.
• Be careful and aware at intersections where most motorcycle-vehicle collisions occur.
• Don't hang out in the "No-Zone" where motorists can't see you.
• Be cautious when riding in inclement weather, on slippery surfaces or when encountering obstacles on the roadway.
• Don't drink and ride.
• Ride within your limits
• Get licensed.

Click here to find a training class near you.