Ups And Downs
UPS AND DOWNS
UP: To comedian Jay Leno, for sticking to his priorities. According
to a recent issue of Time, the message on the new “Tonight Show” host’s home telephone answering machine says, “If you’re calling about something important, like cars or motorcy-
cles, leave a message. If it’s about anything else, call my manager.”
DOWN: To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for blackmailing states into passing mandatory helmet laws. According to the NHTSA, $65 million in federal incentive grants have been authorized for states that pass helmet and safety belt laws. The funds will be earmarked for education, training, monitoring and enforcement of the laws. Under current law, any state that fails to enact a mandatory helmet law by 1994 will lose control of 1.5 percent of its federal highway safety spending. States that don’t comply by 1995 will lose over 3 percent of the their funds. Senator Dave Durenberger (R-Minnesota) and Representative Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) have proposed legislation that would retain the grant provision, but would eliminate the federal sanctions against states that don’t enact helmet laws. Currently, 24 states have mandatory helmet laws.
UP: To the Motorcycle Industry Council, for its RightRider off-road responsibility campaign. The campaign cornerstone is a series of four brochures that focus on trail
etiquette, wildlife impact, wetlands protection and noise control. The brochures are published in
cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, and can be obtained from the MIC by phoning 703/521-0444.
