The scooters

that have become all the rage recently carry a potential inherent danger:

the possibility of serious head injury if the rider doesn't wear a helmet.

According to

Police Chief Jim Murray, although Georgia law requires young bike riders

to wear helmets, Peachtree City Attorney Rick Lindsey has said it doesn't

apply to scooters. Instead of adopting a local ordinance to fill the loophole,

Murray recommended to the City Council that other measures be taken to

insure safety for scooter riders.

The Police

Department is developing a pamphlet warning of the dangers of not using

a helmet, Murray told council at its meeting last week. He said a public

campaign to encourage helmet use would also be effective.

Murray also

suggested that the Recreation Department help parents by closing some

parking lots on weekends to allow children to practice on their scooters,

bikes and roller blades in a controlled area.

Murray added

that the use of knee and elbow pads was also important as a safety precaution

for scooter riders.

Although parental

education on this issue is important, Murray said the topic would also

be addressed with local schoolchildren through the Police Department's

DARE officers in the classes they teach.

Councilwoman

Annie McMenamin agreed, saying that children can often take responsibility

on their own when asked to. Sometimes, children are the ones reminding

parents to buckle up in motor vehicles, she said.

The information

could also be disseminated on the city's cable access channel and in the

monthly city newsletter to residents, Murray said.

Some safety

recommendations from the department include:

Allow only

one person on a scooter at a time.

Be careful

when riding downhill since it may be harder to stop.

Always follow

the rules of the road and be aware of your surroundings.

A scooter

should never be pulled by a car, truck, golf cart or other motorized vehicle.

Make sure

protective gear fits and does not interfere with vision, movement or hearing.

Ride on smooth

surfaces and stay away from water, sand gravel and dirt.

Avoid riding

scooters in areas with vehicular traffic.

Don't ride

scooters after dark.