California Helmet Law Passed, But Won’t Become Law

A proposed law requiring under 18s on California's ski slopes to wear helmets has been passed by governor Arnold Schwarzenegger according to website www.firsttracksonline.com

However it transpires the new law was tied to a second proposed new law, requiring California's ski resorts to take additional steps to improve safety standards, including improved signage and padding of safety hazards etc which Governor Schwarzenegger said placed too many burdens on the state's ski areas and rejected. So the helmet law will not become law without the other succeeding.

"…While I am signing this (helmet) bill to demonstrate my support for this measure, I recognize that it will not take effect," Schwarzenegger said in a written statement.

Senator Leland Yee who brought forward the bill which had been approved by the senate and only needed Governor Shwarzenegger's full agreement to progress, said he would reintroduce it next year.
Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

I don't know the details of the improved safety part of the bill, but I'm sure it would have helped make skiing safer. The problem is that when people are injured by hitting obstructions in, and beside ski runs, the ski resort is unlikely to improve the signage, or impact protection, because this would be admitting there was a problem to start with.

can we not just let natural selection take over again? if your daft enough to ski into a lift pylon at 50 miles an hour surely its good for the gene pool :)

by the way before i get strung up that was a joke.
wear a helmet kids

I have never skied America but apparently the chair lifts have no safety bars, so if that is the set standard no wonder it will cost the resorts a fortune.