Campaign to urge Gators to wear helmets while riding scooters

September 30, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida will kick off “Gators Do It with Helmets On” Scooter-Helmet Safety Week on Thursday.

The campus-wide initiative is an effort to increase the number of UF students who wear helmets when driving and riding scooters. The campaign is part of October’s National Helmet Safety Month.

The weeklong safety campaign will include musical performances, safety information, a personal testimonial and helmet raffle prizes.

Chris Machen, UF’s first lady, and Jordan Johnson, Student Government president, will host a program on Thursday that will begin with a concert by the Chris McCarty Band. The program will begin at 6 p.m. at the Reitz Student Union Amphitheater. A personal testimony from scooter-accident survivor Ashley Groves will be included, as well as games, helmet modeling by the UF Dazzler team and other musical performances. In addition, the Shands Trauma Unit will set up an information booth, and New Scooters 4 Less, a Gainesville business, will raffle off several scooter helmets. The event is free and open to the public.

On Friday and again on Oct. 6 and 8, Eta Sigma Gamma members and University Police Department officers will provide safety information on the Reitz Student Union North Lawn, to educate students on the importance of wearing a helmet when operating a scooter.

On Oct. 5 and 7 at campus scooter-parking areas, Eta Sigma Gamma members will provide positive reinforcement to helmet-wearing scooter drivers, as well as friendly encouragement to non-helmet wearers to purchase and wear a helmet. Student volunteers will distribute coupons from local businesses to reinforce the campaign message and provide information about the importance of wearing a helmet when driving and riding a scooter.

Gainesville Police and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office will combine efforts on Oct. 7 to provide traffic detail warnings for drivers and riders not wearing helmets. Depending on the weight of the scooter, Florida law states that the scooter drivers or riders under age 21 are required to wear helmets and carry $10,000 of insurance. Scooters registered to a person under 21 must display a red lettered license plate.

The week is sponsored by Eta Sigma Gamma (UF’s health education student honorary organization), the Shands Trauma Unit, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Government, Gator Watch, University Police Department, Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, New Scooters 4 Less and other community businesses.

The Gator Watch campaign, which will continue annually, is a comprehensive initiative targeted toward students taking responsibility for their safety. The campaign has expanded its awareness focus to include scooter-helmet safety education, crime prevention tips, preventing the spread of H1N1 flu virus and facts about excessive drinking. Colleges, units and departments will partner with Gator Watch.