I was halfway pleased to see the March 16 editorial saying that “the youngest riders should wear helmets.” Two bills involving helmets are being discussed currently in Augusta. One is a universal mandate; the other requires riders 18 and under to wear helmets when operating motorcycles.

Developing sensible habits at a young age is commendable, but with the ever-escalating cost of medical care, it is time for the adults to step up and wear the same protection. Why must society continue to bear the expense of the lengthy rehabilitation, and perhaps permanent disability, brought on by the devastating head injuries suffered by helmetless riders?

Almost coincidentally, there was a recent story in the Sun Journal about a motorcycle rider hit in the chest by a startled turkey. The rider was knocked off his bike. The report said that he was wearing a helmet and that was probably why he survived.

The editorial stated that “the majority of crashes are caused by other drivers.” Even if you add turkeys to the list of causes, the point is that any driver or rider has little or no control over another operator (or bird or moose), and is at their mercy. No amount of skill compensates for “the other guy,” which is precisely why those helmets are necessary.

It’s time to pass the more comprehensive bill.

Edward Walworth, MD, Lewiston

Editor’s note: On March 20, the Legislature’s Transportation Committee voted 11-2 for the under-18 helmet law, but rejected the full helmet provision by a broad margin.