Moped Accident Highlights Need For Helmets

Dan Frith

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Nora Quezada was involved in a July 4 traffic accident in Waynesboro, Virginia that killed a moped rider, 50 year old James Baber. The victim died from his injuries at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. Quezada was driving without having a valid driver's license and served 11 days in jail.

This is a tragic and unnecessary loss of life but the most interesting, and possibly long-lasting effect of the tragedy, is that after reports of the incident appeared in local newspapers citing head injuries in Baber’s death, the Waynesboro City Council passed a law requiring moped riders to wear helmets.

My Take: All cites, towns, counties, and other municipalities should have laws on the books requiring protective helmets for all operators of mopeds and motorcycles. Lets face it...more and more people will be driving mopeds/motorcycles and the needless loss of life can be limited by laws which protect the operators.