States which rushed to repeal motorcyclist helmet laws a few years ago should consider readopting the legislation, judging by results of a U.S. Department of Transportation safety – economic study. Rep. David E, Bonior, DMich., who summarized findings in the Congressional Record, said 47 states had adopted helmet laws by 1975, complying with a motorcycle standard under the Highway Safety Act of 1966. But when Congress passed its Highway Safety Act of 1976 it removed the transportation secretary’s authority to require state helmet laws, By 1979, 27 states either had repealed the laws or revised them so only cyclists under 18 were required to wear headgear. As helmet laws grew fewer. motorcycle fatalities climbed, says the study. prepared by DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Crash deaths numbered 4,572 in 1978, an increase of 1,278 over the 1976 total. The tentative figure for 1979 is 4,850. a 46 percent gain over 1976, while new motorcycle registrations increased less than one percent in the period. A few other conclusions spotlighted in the report: – Failure of cyclists to wear helmets costs the public millions of dollars in added care, rehabilitation, and public assistance costs. – in most states with helmet laws, compliance usually exceeds 90 percent; the figure is 50 percent or less in states where laws were repealed or weakened. – Cyclists triple their risk of death of serious injury by failing to use protective helmets. – No scientific evidence exists to show that helmets increase severity of neck injuries, nor impair a ri er’s vision or hearing. We believe the report merits careful evaluation looking to national legislation defining state responsibility; also effective state motorcycle safety proigrams, inc uding rider an public education, licensmg, safety inspection, and helmet use.