Fans want to see QB wise up

There is mixed reaction over the current helmet law.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Die-hard Steelers fan Eric McGee was wearing his official Ben Roethlisberger NFL jersey Tuesday in support of his favorite quarterback, but he wasn't happy.
"I'm a little upset with Ben. He's supposed to be a little smarter than that," McGee, of Sharon, said of Roethlisberger's not having a helmet on when he had a motorcycle crash on a Pittsburgh street.
Roethlisberger's high-profile motorcycle crash riveted public attention on the risks of riding without a helmet, but it is unlikely to bolster the case for state bans on bareheaded bikers.
The trend over the last several years has been to repeal helmet laws, said Rae Tyson, a spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington, a leading advocate of laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets.
"The truth is that those who are [proponents] of repeal are far more organized than proponents of mandatory helmet laws," Tyson said.
Reinstate law
For McGee, there's no question that Pennsylvania should reinstate its old helmet laws.
But that question got mixed reactions from patrons dining at the Quaker Steak & amp; Lube on Tuesday afternoon.
"It's his choice. I agree with the [current] helmet law," said Kevin Kurp of Monroeville, Pa.
Jack Bish of Clarion, Pa., and Chester Jessee of New Brighton, Pa., rode to the Sharon restaurant on their Harley Davidson motorcycles without helmets.
"It's a choice," Bish said. "Helmet or not, you can still get hurt. It's no different than riding in a car without a seat belt. It was just an unfortunate accident."
Bob Chamberlain of Sharpsville agrees, but thinks Roethlisberger has some responsibility in the matter.
"It was his choice, but don't you think he had some responsibility to the team?" he said.
Put in contract
Bob Doddato of Sharpsville thinks Roethlisberger should have been prohibited from even riding a motorcycle until his NFL career is over.
"My opinion is if you are paid that much money to play, you shouldn't be riding a motorcycle," he said.
Emily and William Wright of Farrell agree.
"It was stupid of him to be riding without a helmet," Mrs. Wright said.
"Just because they passed the law doesn't mean he should have been riding without a helmet," her husband added.
Lyndon Conrad of Ellwood City says he would support repealing the current law, which allows motorcyclists to ride without helmets.
"My daughter rides a horse, and she has to wear a helmet," he said.
Jerry Meszaros of Sharon doesn't have a problem with the current helmet law, but he does want Big Ben to wear one.
"I feel he has the rest of his life to do that," he said.
I'm riding a motorcycle, I know I would be wearing a helmet."
Opposing views
Advocates maintain that cyclists should be free to choose for themselves.
Charles Umbenhauer, lobbyist for the 7,000-member Pennsylvania Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education, which led the successful campaign to repeal Pennsylvania's universal-helmet law in 2003, said Roethlisberger's accident is unlikely to spur efforts to restore the law.
"We have accidents every day that are far worse than that one," said Umbenhauer, whose group has long maintained that better rider training is the key to safer motorcycling.
Only 20 states currently require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets. Twenty-seven others mandate helmet use for certain riders -- Pennsylvania, for example, requires helmets for novices and riders younger than 21.
The NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,316 motorcyclists in 2004 and that an additional 671 lives could have been saved, had all motorcyclists worn helmets that year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
cioffi@vindy.com