Sheriff’s Department Partner with Buellton Rotary Club to Provide Increased Bicycle Safety

September 7, 2007 - Santa Barbara County

The Buellton Police Department, Rotary Club, and the Buellton Union School District have partnered to increase the safety of local children. The Buellton Rotary Club has purchased 40 helmets to be donated to local children.

The Buellton Union School District will be handing out the bicycle helmets to local children who do not have helmets. The Sheriff’s Department will be sending those parents a letter explaining the dangers of children not wearing helmets and that California law requires anyone under 18 to wear a helmet.

The Buellton Police Department will be hosting a Bike Rodeo in November at Oak Valley School. A Bike Rodeo instructs youth in the rules of the road and bicycle safety.

Fact regarding bicycle safety:

In a bicycle accident, a helmet can reduce your risk of serious head injury by 85 percent.
Bike-related accidents kill 900 people each year.
Nearly 600,000 receive emergency room treatments annually.
In 1998, 98% of all bicyclists killed in vehicle vs. bicycle collisions weren't wearing a helmet.
Still, 50 percent of the nation's estimated 80.6 million cyclists wear helmets less than half of the time or not at all.

*All statistics are from The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute *Contact Senior Deputy Sandra Brown at the Buellton Police Station @ 686-8151 for further Info.

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please contact Sgt. Erik Raney, Public Information Officer.

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EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org