“Let who ride, decide” is the mantra of motorcyclists about mandatory helmet laws. This state hasn’t required helmets since 1977; riders have vigorously fought subsequent attempts to impose this requirement on them.

It’s worth the fight. Helmets aren’t a civil liberties issue, but a lifestyle issue, rooted in the independent mindset that comes with two-wheeled motorized transportation. Helmets are sensible precautions for an activity that has certain inherent dangers.

Yet, unless the Legislature changes its tune this year, legislation mandating helmets for all riders will likely stall. This shouldn’t, however, be the fate of an eminently sensible companion bill that mandates helmets for riders up to age 18, from Rep. Emily Cain, D-Orono.

Right now, riders as young as 14 can operate motorcycles without helmets, one of the lowest minimum ages in the country. It should be increased, not only to protect children while operating such machines, but to instill safe habits in riders from the youngest possible age.

The argument is this: Pro-helmet advocates can cite statistic after statistic to show helmets save lives and prevent serious injuries in accidents. Motorcyclists refute this by saying the majority of crashes are caused by other drivers, and it’s they who should be targeted.

Veteran riders, it’s said, have the experience and instincts to operate their machines safely, and cannot stop what other drivers do. While this rings true, it only strengthens arguments for ensuring the most inexperienced riders – the youngest – are always helmeted.

Cain was quoted by the Associated Press as saying this was a “logical compromise” to the overall issue of helmets. We disagree. It’s not compromise; it’s progress. Lawmakers have had no success over the past 30 years in making riders wear helmets.

It is high time something is done. Getting mandatory helmets for riders up to age 18 should be viewed as what it is, a policy for better motorcycle safety, instead of a booby prize when the real goal should be universal helmeting.

Frankly, if after three decades motorcyclists still don’t see the benefit of wearing helmets, there are few other arguments lawmakers can offer to change riders’ minds. The thing they should do is exactly what Cain suggests: make the youngest riders wear helmets.

Then, we can hope they become the generation that realizes helmets should be worn all the time.