Real Cause of Motorcycle Deaths

You wrote Aug. 12 about a person on a motorcycle being killed. While I am sorry for his family, I am curious to know what he was doing riding 100 m.p.h. on the Ventura Freeway and, of course, why you insist on saying that he wasn’t wearing a helmet.

Do you honestly believe that a helmet would have made a difference? On numerous occasions, you have had articles about people involved in motorcycle accidents, and you’re quick to mention that they weren’t wearing helmets.

I ride a motorcycle every day. I am 36 years old, and it is my choice to ride without a helmet. I know that people who do wear helmets also get injured or killed in motorcycle accidents, yet you never mention that the injured or deceased was wearing a helmet.

I agree with Gov. George Deukmejian that what we need is more education and tougher testing. The so-called riding skill test is a joke. Riding within a circle twice to the left and to the right and going between pylons does not show one’s road skills. What’s needed is testing like they have in New York. There, the motorcyclist must provide a car and a driver for the official doing the testing. Then the motorcyclist goes out into real traffic with the car following and observing the motorcyclist’s riding skills.

If California would require this kind of testing in addition to motorcycle safety courses, I believe many lives would be saved. More important than the helmet is the skill of the person riding the motorcycle.

JIM PFEIFFER

Canoga Park