As south-central Kansas kicks back and makes some noise for Independence Day, it should not be too much to hope that fireworks will be used responsibly and injuries will be few. Wichita had 37 fireworks-related injuries in 2005 (two fewer than 2004), and saw less damage and fewer complaints and citations across the board. Today represents the latest chance for Wichitans to demonstrate that they can be trusted to shoot off fireworks with caution and common sense, and that there is no need to revive a push for a fireworks ban or other dramatic change in ordinance.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/22
- Regular on Open thread 11/22
- Regular on Open thread 11/22
- Rage on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- Chas on Open thread 11/22
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/22
- Boxlock20 on Open thread 11/22
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- JimJohnson on Open thread 11/22
46 Comments
Everything is already banned.
I drive down to Oklahoma and get the good stuff.
Aw, Nathan, they don’t have the really good stuff. To get that, you have to drive down to Mexico. I remember once getting an M-1000 down there and smuggling it back long, long ago.
“Wow, that’s a window rattler.” *grin*
But you’re right, Oklahoma has better fireworks than Kansas. So does Missouri.
Well golly Rhonda, let’s hope our government mommy thinks we are grown up enough to handle some fireworks.
Apparently that whole by the people for the people thing is just so last season American Idol.
Ahh yes…responsibility. Maybe someone could teach the people a block away from my house about that? The ones who were firing their guns in the air about 3:30 this morning?
I would have tried to talk to them, but I don’t speak Spanish…
Leave it to the city to take the fun out of the 4th. I’ve been watching the kids around the neighborhood. Their fireworks are soooo lame! Yeah, I know there’s always some kid that gets their fingers burned (or blown off). Maybe we can ban bicycles next. How many kids get hurt on those things?
Hasn’t some counties or cities banned the use of fireworks already? I thought Reno County or at least Hutchinson did. I think there are several others.
Sure Oklahoma and Missouri have better fireworks. They also have lower ACT scores and other educational standards. I wonder if there’s any correlation?
Geez Joe! Don’t you do anything for fun?
Anything approaching REAL fireworks HAS been banned in Wichita since I was my sons age. Aint never stopped me.
I’ll proudly be exercising my independence from silly restrictive laws again this year! Making the laws sillier and more restrictive will not change that in the future.
I pop fireworks and eat hotdogs.
Ahh good on you Joe. I mistakenly took that you were against the fireworks. My bad.
I’m the one who’s against irresponsible use of fireworks. I guess you’ve never lost any hearing or had your roof catch fire from bottle rockets. You ought to visit an ER and see some of fun from fireworks. JR, have a good time with your son without interfering with others’ independence and freedom from fireworks.
“Sure Oklahoma and Missouri have better fireworks. They also have lower ACT scores and other educational standards. I wonder if there’s any correlation?”
The information you are presenting (and I do not know if these data are true) would suggest a correlation. The question you are asking: is there a cause and effect relationship? – which is unknowable from a correlation only.
Ice cream sales and the rate of violent crime have been correlated in Northen U.S. cities. The rate of both are also correlated with another variable, which would seem to more likely explain the mechanisms of action – i.e. warmer weather.
Banning ice cream sales would not likely effect the crime rate. Though it might make violence in my house more likely.
Let’s pursue correlations more: Increased restrictions on teen drivers has resulted in fewer auto crash fatalities. On the other side of the coin, repealed helmet laws have yielded more motorcycle accident deaths. The original comment about education standards merely suggests that smarter people have better laws. (By the way, the source for the data was from last week’s newspaper.)
The outlawing of fireworks is similar to the outlawing of guns.
“People kill people, guns don’t kill people”
This applies to fireworks,
“People injure themselves or burn down their house, not the fireworks…”
The few idiots out there who go and do stupid things like blow them selves up or burn down their houses have completely screwed up our chances of having these really cool, and high tech fireworks.
I at least live out in Goddard where everything that is legal in Kansas is legal which is far more than whats legal in Wichita.
Guns kill. Fireworks burn. An individual’s abuse of freedom affects others. The fact that we even have a ‘few idiots out there’ warrants the need for restrictions and laws concerning the aforementioned as well as seat belts (espcecially for kids,) smoking, and teen drivers.
I enjoy watching the big fireworks displays, but buying fireworks for personal use just doesn’t excite me. I might as well burn a dollar bill than a string of firecrackers.
Please remember that not only do guns and alcohol not mix, the same is true for fireworks and alcohol.
I wonder just what the difference is in fireworks accidents in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.
As it stands now I plan on launching my fireworks from Oklahoma which go in the sky, instead of the boring fountains which make aparkles no greater than 6 foot.
Guess what? I will do it without burning anything down or hurting someone.
I’ve always hated firecrackers, I was tramatized by them when I was really young. We do have great fireworks out here in Goddard…plan to sit on the roof tonight and watch the show the neighbors put on every year.
Drew-
Have you ever noticed that repealing helmet laws ALSO results in many more motorcycles on the road? Enacting helmet laws reduces the number of bikes on the road.
Fact: Florida repealed their helmet law, and within 5 years, registrations increased by 115%. (Florida DOT figures)Fact: Califonia enacted a helmet law, and within 5 years, registrations dropped by 38%. (California DMV figures)
Do you think that the number of bikes on the road just might have something to do with changes in numbers of deaths? Do you think there just might be a connection that has absolutely nothing to do with the “effectiveness” of helmets?
After all, Federal Standard DOT FMSs 218 that establishes standards for helmets clearly states that a helmet must withstand an impact of 19.7 feet per second, or 13.4318 miles per hour. By federal standard, there is not a helmet made that can withstand any impact sustained at more than 20 miles per hour.
If you want to wear one, fine. I would rather concentrate on reducing the drunk drivers and right of way violations that are killing not just motorcyclists, but pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists. Or, would you just suggest a helmet law for them as well, and ignore the drivers that CAUSE the wrecks?
It seems that in Florida, making it easy to be negligent concerning one’s safety (e.g. not wearing a helmet) attracts aspiring motorcyclists. Not good.
What are the death rates nowadays in Florida? Google that and see what the facts are.
Federal standards for helmet laws appear to rather weak. Nonetheless, the numbers of cyclists wearing helmets surviving accidents is substantially higher compared to those who don’t. The helmet doesn’t have to be perfect to serve its purpose. Unfortunately, vanity is stronger than common sense. After all, isn’t image what a loud chopper is all about?
Poor drivers, those that speed, don’t signal lane changes, talk on cell phones, and drink alcohol are indeed a threat to all, not just motorcyclists. I hope the local police continue their crackdown on such drivers along Kellogg and elsewhere in Wichita.
No need to google them, I have the stats for 2004 from the Florida DOT.
Helmeted, 4271 accidents, 214 fatals. Unhelmeted, 4,262 accidents, 202 fatals. And your conclusion is?
The problem with short sighted calls for helmet laws is that it completely ignores the cause of the wrecks.
For example, so far this year in Wichita, there have been 10 fatal motorcycle accidents with 11 deaths. 2 of those (that killed 3 people) were related to excessive speed, one of those had alcohol involvement.
The other 8 fatal accidents, (80%) were the fault of the car driver who violated the bikes right of way. (Source, Wichita PD). So, with several deaths, the immediate response is “HELMET LAW”. Wait a second..what about the people who are killing motorcyclists by turning in front of them? They pay a $90 fine and go on their way.
Saying helmet law is the answer is like telling Mothers Against Drunk Driving that we don’t need stiffer penalties, just suits of armor so that when a drunk runs into you, it woesn’t cause as much damage. Nope..we need to go after the CAUSE of the wrecks.
It is time to change the law to penalize the drivers who violate laws and kill people. It is time to penalize these killers. Just this past week, there have been 4 fatal motor vehicle accidents in Kansas due to right of way violations.
Let’s get past the ‘quick fix’ of blaming deaths on motorcyclists and get to the cause..1,964 right of way violation tickets written in Wichita last year. It is time to make the penalties fit the crime.
Raptor, What do the statistics say about the rate of permanent disabilities of those who don’t wear helments and survive vs those who wear them and also survive? As a nurse, I’ve known several people who “survived” a cycle accident without wearing a helmet, but if they could talk, they’d probably agree with me that they would have been better off dead.
Why do we have to make a choice? Why not penalize the drivers more severely who cause accidents and ALSO require cyclists to helmets? Remember, when someone becomes permanently disabled due to the brain damage caused by not wearing a helmet, the taxpayers usually end up paying the tab for their care for what’s left of their life. Did you ever think that maybe you have a responsibility to the government to wear a helmet?
D–
That ‘public burden’ theory has been proven to be false many, many times. If nothing else (according to the Univ. of Virginia, Cal Tech and Univ of Nevada) car drivers are less likely to have sufficient medical insurance than are motorcyclists. Besides, not one study has ever been done proving a lessening of cost due to wearing helmets. A motorcyclists entire body is vulnerable to these poor drivers..not just the head.
Hundreds of motorcyclists die every year while wearing helmets. The problem is not the helmet, but the irresponsible, careless and illegal driver running motorcyclists and others off the road.
It is time to apply the penalty of law to people who are killing not just motorcylists, but bicyclists, pedestrians and other car drivers. If it were not for the right of way violations in Wichita, this would not even be an issue.
Of course, there was that idiot quarterback who had a wreck, and the media highlighted his lack of helmet use. The media downplayed the fact that he didn’t have a license and should never have been riding in the first place. The media also ignored how the woman that hit him illegally turned left in front of him.
Do you want to tell Candy Leightner and MADD that we do NOT need stiff drunk driving laws, just suits of armor? Same thing.. blame the motorcyclists for America’s inability to drive.
Raptor,
Notice the increase in Florida motorcycle deathts AFTER the hemlet law repeal.
One of my conclusions is that poor driving/riding/no helmet means accidents.
Two recent Wichita motorcycle accidents you neglect involve (K-15, fatal) and a deer collision that cannot be blamed on cars.
Enforcement and common sense can solve some of the problems.
Damoon,
My father and I will be anchoring the sail boat with a firing platform in the middle of the lake.
We will be launching them from the pattle boat…
If you want to see my father and I try to not kill ourselves come on out!
LOL Nathan! Good luck with that!
My most memorable 4th of July was the summer before my senior year in high school and spent on a small garlic farm in Mexico. There were 21 of us kids from all over the state who were sad we wouldn’t get to shoot off a few firecrackers and such. It was also the birthday of one of the 2 Mennonite COs who were doing their “stint” in the area, so we wanted to make it special.
We managed our own American-type meal as best we could, but the surprise came when we learned that it was some kind of Feast Day in the nearby town, and fireworks (Mexican style) were a part of their celebration. It wasn’t much, but it made the day and evening even more special and something I know we all never forgot.
Well, there went 200 dollars in fireworks…
Responsibility with fireworks? I wish…was kept awake until almost 3AM due to that nonsense. And, driving to work this morning saw actual piles of debris left in the streets.
And, I understand one house fire was caused by bottle rockets.
This type of widespread irresponsible activity will hasten the day that private use of fireworks will be universally banned.
Drew–
Your comment about vanity is off base and not worthy of comment.
Those figures I quoted from Florida ARE after the repeal of their helmet law. A higher number AND percentage of helmeted riders died than non-helmeted.
A good friend of mine was killed two months ago in California. He was stopped at a red light and a woman talking on a cell phone didn’t even slow down before running him over from behind. What earthly good did a helmet do him? Absolutely nothing. Very common occurance–helmets are not the answer to the killings on our streets.
Last night, it did seem like there were more fireworks (big ones) going off later than I can ever remember here in town. Did finally get to sleep, though.
Last night wasn’t too bad in my neighborhood. Last year was bad… There’s a rental house over the back fence. The people who lived there last year shot fireworks till 4am. They’re gone now, thank God.
When I was a kid, we got to shoot off the good stuff. While parents generally were aware of what we were doing, they didn’t hover and I never saw any horrible accidents with fireworks. Sure, there were the occasional burns, but nobody blew off any fingers.
Now, it seems the irresponsibility of a few has ruined it for the many, as usual.
Raptor,
If it’s not vanity then what explains the choice not to wear a helmet? If it affords one even an iota of protection from a serious head injury, then why not use it?
Read the Dept of Transportation’s conculsions on helmets:
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/CODES/codesrpt.pdf
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/EvalofMotor.pdf
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2004/809-715/pages/Conclusions.html
http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/94/4/556
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/FlaMCReport/images/FloridaMCReportscr1.pdf
One down side to helmets from my experience is that they can interfere with both peripheril vision and hearing. Both of these are needed on the road; particularly in light of the lawlessness of so may car/truck/suv drivers.
Ahhh yes..the NHTSA line. Check on miles traveled..NHTSA says there were zero miles traveled by motorcycle in 9 states for the past 11 years. One of those states is South Dakota..which hosts a rally for over 500,000 motorcyclists. How can they travel zero miles?
Yet..NHTSA regularly publishes “death per mile traveled” statistics..which are obviously skewed.
NHTSA has illegally lobbied states for helmet laws, and was ordered to stop by a federal court in the late 1980’s.
NHTSA estimates “potential lives saved” and yet has absolutely no idea of the cause of death in ANY accident it reports on. NHTSA concentrates on helmets and ignores other issues, such as cause of death, violation of right of way, speed, etc.
Check the NHTSA facts again, Drew, and you will find that states with helmet laws and states without helmet laws all have about the same number of deaths per 100 accidents..right around 3%. This fact has held true for all 50 states for over 20 years. Absolute proof positive that helmets have no impact on ’safety’. The area with the consistently highest death per accident rate, Washington DC, has had a helmet law for many years.
Both California and Maryland saw a provable increase in the death/accident ratio after passing helmet laws. Florida’s death/accident ratio did not change after repealing their helmet law. Pennsylvania’s has actually decreased with repeal.
The facts are there. Yes, raw numbers say one thing, but look past the “deaths are down” numbers that NHTSA loves to publish. Look at the number of registrations. Look at the number of accidents. Look at the number of right of way violations.
By pure numbers, North Dakota is obviously the safest place to ride a motorcycle, since they have the fewest deaths. Look beyond that..they have the fewest riders and the shortest riding season. But, NHTSA, when claiming deaths decrease after passing a helmet law IGNORES the decrease in registrations.
It is a LOT more than vanity. Helmets are hot. Helmets are heavy. Helmets contribute to fatigue–a leading cause of accidents. Helmets can cause more severe injuries–remember Dale Earnhardt? His helmet contributed to his broken neck.Helmets can interfere with vision and hearing, two things that are critical when riding a motorcycle.
The concentration on helmets loses sight of the other issues involved…violation of rights of way, drunk drivers, lack of training and motorcycle licensing. The concentration on helmets is a ‘quick fix’ that doesn’t fix anything.
For example, until recently, the state of Mississippi did not require a motorcycle license to operate one. They currently have no self funded rider education available. There is no requirement for footrests for rider or passenger. There is no requirement for horns or turn signals. There is no inspection, there is no requirement for headlights. Yet, they have a helmet law. Once again, the concentration on helmet laws obscures the many, many other issues affecting motorcycle safety.
So it’s all just a big NHTSA conspiracy?
Riding a motorcyle is lifestyle choice and for many helmets don’t fit into it, regardless of the protection they afford.
Throughout this discussion we’ve heard about bad automobile drivers, yet in Wichita at least four recent fatal cycle accidents high speed or operator error of the motorcylist determined the outcome. Come to think of it, I routinely see as many aggressive motorcyclists as conscientous ones. Some seem to take particular pleasure in swerving around cars. Others tailgate and speed just like car drivers.
With the increase in gas prices some are seeing motorcycles as more cost-effecient means of transportation. Unfortunately motorcycle licenses are not required for buying a bike. Many do not know how to handle a bike (the issue of helmets is moot if you don’t know how to ride) and are paying with their lives. We need to inact laws requiring motorcycle licenses for purchase (or within 60 days of purchase) of motorcycles. I think that more than anything will help with motorcycle fatalities and/or accidents.
Drew-Please provide some proof for your comment about how helmets do not fit into a ‘lifestyle’. Nice opinion..but if you are going to advance it as fact, I would love some proof of that one.
Yes, there are idiots on motorcycles, just as there are idiots in cars. My point is that 80% of the recent fatalities have been the fault of car drivers.. or did you miss that one in your zeal to promote helmet laws?
Julie is so accurate…lack of license/training makes helmet use moot. Like the quarterback in PA recently, who crashed. The media failed to mention that he had no license, and should not have been riding anyway. The media failed to mention that the woman turned in front of him illegally. The media mentioned endlessly that he was not wearing a helmet–like that would have prevented the accident.
A combination of stiffer penalties as well as stricter training/licensing would make a huge difference in death rates. Proof comes from SD, CA, CO, IL, and many other states that have enacted mandatory rider education laws.
Question for you, Drew..what is your stake in this? Do you just want to tell people how to live? You have no original research, many outlandish claims against motorcycling in general. If you don’t like motorcycles, don’t ride one. If you want to wear a helmet, feel free to do so. They have questionable effectiveness, they can contribute to accidents, and the concentration on helmets obscures the cause of accidents and deaths.
Original research? That’s what we have experts for. (e.g. NHTSA)
First and foremost is self-preservation. Ride defensively and wear a helmet. I do it on my bike. I expect there to be idiots behind the wheel and I’m a statistic waiting to happen. Despite all the training and awareness people will make mistakes.
How cyclist live is their right AND responsibility. Why not make an effort to avoid a head injury that incurs catastrophoic injury to themselves? We also have to consider the costs to the insurance pool. That affects everyone.
No, I didn’t miss your exaggerated 80%, but you did neglect the cases that reduced that inflated figure. Five of the deaths were operator/speed related: 1) Central near Raytheon 2) Pawnee/Broadway at WalMart 3) 2x deaths N. Broadway 4) K-15 near Wassal 5) Recent collision with a deer (critical condition as we write).
The media didn’t neglect Ben Rothlisberger’s or woman’s imprudence. In fact, pointing out he had no license was one of the first things they stated about him. No bias there.
Some people have a lifestyle and choose information that suits their interests. Professionally conducted peer-reviewed research supports the use of helmets.
My stats came from WPD, that stated of the 10 fatal motorcycle accidents this year around Wichita, 2 accidents (claiming 3 lives) were speed and/or alcohol related. Let’s face it, the best helmet in the world will not help when you run into a semi at 130 miles per hour.
“peer reviewed research supports helmet laws”? Love the generalizations that prove absolutely nothing.
I never claimed a conspiracy within NHTSA. I simply pointed out slanted and incomplete data that is presented.
It is obvious that we will never change each other’s minds. How about you cling to your belief in helmets all you want, just don’t force your beliefs on me, ok?
Changing your mind isn’t my goal. I’m not forcing anything, just pointing out the facts. The term “peer-reviewed research” conveys that a study was subject to criticism from other experts and professionals, unlike ‘original’ research that merely seeks to support one’s agenda. If the NHTSA is biased in favor of safety, then that’s something we can all live with.
Best of luck.
130 MPH! Is that regular use of a motorcyle? Indeed, it certainly appears that some riders need more instruction besides a reminder to wear a helmet.
IF,–I came to your house and ASKED you to stop shooting fireworks into my yard, or scaring my dogs, would you stop?
I think, most people in Wichita, would think, I was invading their privacy! Whatta you think?
Raptor and Drew – we now have a thread to post our thoughts on the motorcycle accidents.