The only thing that should ever be knocked into a person's head is the common sense to wear a helmet, believes Jim Reed, transportation safety expert.

Reed, employed as a roving safety advisor by the Nassau County Board of Traffic Control and the New York State Department of Transportation, held a "Safety on the Go" forum at the Jericho Public Library on Tuesday, February 23 to instruct an audience of several dozen how to improve vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs, upon hearing of Reed's services, set up this local conference, attended by several local PTA members and civic leaders. Jacobs, in over three years as a legislator, has championed numerous efforts to make traveling through her district a safer task.

"Knowing my district is very oriented to education and safety, this was a good marriage for us," said Jacobs.

There are two main purposes to his presentations, explained Reed - to educate the public, particularly children, that proper safety precautions are crucial to follow, and to convince local businesses to financially back regional programs that provide equipment such as helmets and bike reflectors to kids.

The latter, however, was difficult to accomplish at the past meeting because few community business representatives showed. Nevertheless, Jacobs suggested that the meeting could be a "stepping stone" to future collaboration with local businesses, including possibly those that currently are members of the Syosset Chamber of Commerce.

In the past, Reed has worked with the New York Jets, Computer Associates and several insurance companies like All State and GEICO to raise funds for the purchasing of helmets for children. Reed, in fact, was recently responsible for every child in the Freeport School District getting a bicycle helmet for free. "I have 23 fund-raising events between now and March 15," said Reed, who said he's so "wildly driven" that "I stay up late at night in bed thinking up ideas."

Reed also visits local schools to stress the importance of safety gear when riding bikes, properly buckling up when riding in a car and using sound judgment when walking along busy thoroughfares. According to Reed, it is crucial to emphasize to children that helmets are a necessity, and not a fashion option. Currently, said Reed, "There is only a 30 percent compliance rate with bicycle helmet wearing."

But Reed reaches out to adults as well, who can sometimes be just as careless with their safety as children are. Reed said they must set a positive example for children. For example, he said, "If parents wear their seatbelts, they've got a greater chance of their children buckling up."

Through working with Reed, Jacobs has become convinced that Nassau County should adopt a law requiring all children on bicycles to sport helmets on public roads.

That way, said Jacobs, "If you don't have a helmet, it gives parents the leverage to say that it's against the law."

If anyone is interested in sponsoring a helmet safety program, contact Reed at 223-4316.