Chances for Motorcycle Helmet Bill Improve : Safety: A spokesman for Gov. Wilson says he will probably sign measure requiring such headgear. His predecessor vetoed two similar attempts.

A bill requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets to help prevent deaths and injuries appears to have a good chance of becoming state law this year, unlike two previous attempts that were vetoed by former Gov. George Deukmejian.

A spokesman for Gov. Pete Wilson said Wednesday the governor probably would sign a mandatory helmet bill if it were to pass in the Legislature, as expected.

“When he was in the Senate, he supported legislation to require motorcycle riders to wear helmets,” said Bill Livingstone, the governor’s press secretary.

“There are many good reasons for a helmet law. The first reason is to save human lives. Another good reason is to save the taxpayers the millions of dollars it can cost to treat motorcycle accident victims who suffer serious head injuries.”

Assemblyman Richard Floyd (D-Carson), the author of this year’s helmet bill as well as the two previously rejected versions said, “I am cautiously optimistic. (But) it ain’t over until the governor signs the bill.”

Earlier this week, the Assembly Transportation Committee approved Floyd’s helmet bill by a vote of 9-5, which sent the measure to the Ways and Means Committee. The California Highway Patrol, which remained neutral in previous efforts to pass the legislation, is expected to support this year’s bill.

Floyd said statistics prepared by the CHP showed that motorcycle crashes in the state in 1989 resulted in 620 fatalities and 19,257 injuries. Floyd said annual costs range from $65 million to $100 million dollars to treat people for brain damage who are injured in motorcycle accidents while riding without helmets. He added it is possible for a single victim to incur medical expenses exceeding $1 million.

“Anyone who has a serious motorcycle accident without a helmet and hits his head on a curb needs a lot of taking care of,” Floyd said.

Critics of the bill, including the Hells Angels and members of other motorcycle clubs, argue that wearing helmets restricts their freedom of choice to ride, as many put it, “with the wind in their hair.” Some also say helmets are a safety hazard because they reduce peripheral vision.

Evel Knievel, who wore a helmet while jumping rows of automobiles and performing other daring stunts, is cited by Floyd as “the best walking commercial for a helmet there is.”

“Mr. Knievel has broken virtually almost every bone in his body, but his head has always been protected,” he said.

Actor Gary Busey, a motorcycle enthusiast, was active in trying to defeat helmet legislation in 1989. But after he recovered from severe head injuries suffered in a nasty spill, Busey appeared on a television talk show and encouraged riders to wear head gear.

The new legislation would require all motorcycle drivers and their riders to wear safety helmets approved by the federal Department of Transportation.

Deukmejian said in vetoing the two past versions of helmet bills that they were too broadly drafted in requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets on all roads under all conditions--as is required by the most recent legislation.

Deukmejian added, however, that if he rode a motorcycle, he would choose to wear a safety helmet.

Current state law requires motorcycle riders 15 1/2 and younger to wear helmets. All riders, regardless of age, using off-terrain vehicles also must wear helmets.