The price of gas is just plain ridiculous. As a result, many individuals have resorted to seeking alternative methods of transportation. The new vehicle of choice is the scooter. Did you know the average scooter gets 85 miles per gallon? Clearly, this is much better than the average vehicle, and scooter owners are also saving money on insurance.
However, while scooters may be the solution to saving your hard-earned money, they can be very dangerous. Depending on the size of the motor, scooter riders may not be required to wear a helmet. According to Florida Statute § 316.211, “a person may not operate or ride upon a motorcycle unless the person is properly wearing protective headgear securely fastened upon his or her head which complies with Federal Motorcycle Vehicle Safety Standard 218.” However, this does not apply to any person 16 years of age or older who is driving or riding upon a scooter powered by a motor with a displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less or is rated not in excess of 2 brake horsepower and which is not capable of propelling such motorcycle at a speed greater than 30 miles per hour on level ground. As a result, many scooter operators will choose not to wear a helmet. Folks, the dangers of driving or riding a scooter without a helmet are clear. Unfortunately, due to the size of some scooters, they are easily overlooked. As such, regardless of Florida requirements, always wear a helmet!
