Governor signs off on measures designed to improve child safety.

Byline: From Register-Guard and news service reports

CORRECTION (ran 5/31/03): Kids under age 16 must wear helmets while riding skates and skateboards. A story on page D1 Thursday incorrectly stated the age requirement.

CORRECTION (ran 5/30/03): A story on page D1 Thursday incorrectly stated the age when helmets must be worn by those riding skates and skateboards. The helmet requirement applies to those under age 16 under a bill signed by the governor.

SALEM - Measures to require children to wear helmets while skateboarding and to make it illegal for minors to ride in the back of pickup trucks were signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

Both new laws, which recently won final approval from the Legislature, will help prevent dozens of injuries and deaths among Oregon children, Kulongoski said at a bill-signing ceremony.

``Oregon has a moral and legal responsibility to protect our children, as the state's most vulnerable citizens and our future leaders,'' the governor said.

The new helmet law, Senate Bill 795, will require children age 16 or younger to wear protective headgear while skateboarding, riding on scooters or using in-line skates. Violators could be fined $25.

The law was inspired by the death of 11-year-old Tyler Amundson of Springfield. He died in 2001 after riding a scooter down a hill into an intersection, crashing into a moving truck and hitting his head on the road.

Among those who attended Wednesday's bill signing were Dan and Diane Amundson, Tyler's parents. Diane Amundson had testified earlier that Tyler and his friends always wore their helmets while riding bicycles but resisted doing so when taking part in roller sports.

The new law will give parents a strengthened hand in insisting that their children comply with state law by wearing a helmet, Amundson said.

Backers of the helmet measure said five other states, including California, recently passed similar legislation. Currently in Oregon, only bicycle riders younger than 16 are required to don helmets.

The bill was co-sponsored by Sens. Bill Morrisette, D-Springfield, and Bev Clarno, R-Bend.

The pickup truck measure, House Bill 2338, prohibits passengers younger than 18 from traveling in an open truck bed unless they are strapped in, riding in a parade, working on a farm or going from one hunting camp to another.

Backers of the bill said people riding in the open cargo areas of trucks have a much greater chance of being killed or injured in traffic wrecks than those riding in the passenger cab.

They said 25 people, including six children, have been killed in such accidents in Oregon since 1990.

ON THE INTERNET

To read more about the helmet measure, Senate Bill 795, or the pickup truck measure, House Bill 2338, visit the Web at www.leg.state.or.us/