2624                                          JOINT RESOLUTIONS                           No. 1

additional 40 cent increase per day per patient will be
used only for the reimbursement to nursing homes for the
purchase of over-the-counter drugs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the adoption of this Resolution shall
be satisfactory and sufficient approval as required under
the provisions of Chapter 119 of the Acts of 1975.

Approved March 16, 1976.

No. 2
(Senate Joint Resolution No. 5)

A Senate Joint Resolution concerning

Safety of Motorcycle Helmets

FOR the purpose of requesting the Motor Vehicle
Administration to conduct a study with respect to
the conflicting reports of the safety of motorcycle
helmets and to report to the General Assembly any
findings or recommended changes in the present
Maryland law.

WHEREAS, There is conflicting evidence with respect
to the safety of motorcycle helmets[[, as many studies
indicate that the wearing of motorcycle helmets may be as
dangerous as not wearing them; and

WHEREAS, According to federal highway safety
researchers, although "helmets sharply reduce fatal head
injuries for motorcyclists..... they may be causing an
increase in deaths from broken necks"; and

WHEREAS, As shown in a study by New York State, the
number of fatal neck injuries has increased greatly since
the use of motorcycle helmets was made mandatory there
in 1967, and similar results have been found in studies
in Washington, Georgia, Oregon, and other states; and

WHEREAS, At present, motorcycle helmets are designed
to protect the head safely up to only approximately a 13
or 14 mile per hour impact, thereby providing little or
no protection for highway motorcyclists]]; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That
the Motor Vehicle Administration is requested to conduct
a study with respect to the conflicting reports of the
safety of motorcycle helmets and to report to the General
Assembly any findings or recommended changes in the
present Maryland law; and be it further