"Every person operating or riding on a motorcycle shall have in that person's possession a safety helmet approved by the Secretary of Public Safety and shall wear eye protection approved by the Secretary; provided, however, that every person up to 19 years of age operating or riding on a motorcycle shall wear a safety helmet and eye protection approved by the Secretary."
That's still the law in Delaware, following the veto Friday by Gov. Jack Markell of a bill to repeal it.
You did catch what it said, didn't you? Anyone on a motorcycle in Delaware must have a helmet in their possession. You don't have to be wearing it, you just have to have it with you. You know, in case you feel like you might like to wear it. Or maybe, heck, it might be less of a pain to put it on your head than to carry it around so yeah, go ahead and wear it.
In his veto statement, the governor said the current law "has helped promote the use of helmets" and he believes it to be "in the best interest of our state." At the same time, he did acknowledge that "A helmet lashed to a seat or handlebars does little, if anything, to improve the situation of a rider in an accident."
The legislator who introduced the bill said he did so after motorcyclist friends of his questioned why it was necessary to carry the helmet. Rep. Michael Mulrooney did note, however, that there will not be any effort to override the governor's veto.
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