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Michigan Traffic Safety Summit 2007
Anne T. McCartt
East Lansing, MI March 14, 2007
Motorcycle Helmets:What’s the Latest Research?
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Motorcycle crashesNational problem size and status
Per mile traveled, there were 34 motorcyclist deaths for every car occupant death in 2004
4,439 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2005, more than double the all-time low in 1997 and 15% higher than in 2004
Increase in deaths not fully explained by increased exposure; FHWA estimates that motorcycle registrations increased by 63% from 1997 to 2005
Per mile traveled, there were 34 motorcyclist deaths for every car occupant death in 2004
4,439 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2005, more than double the all-time low in 1997 and 15% higher than in 2004
Increase in deaths not fully explained by increased exposure; FHWA estimates that motorcycle registrations increased by 63% from 1997 to 2005
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Motorcyclist deaths By age, 1975-2005
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
1975 80 85 90 95 2000 05
30-39 years old
≤ 29 years old
40-49 years old
50+ years old
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Characteristics of crash deaths2005
MotorcyclistsPassenger
vehicle occupants
Male 90% 65%
Age 40 or older 47% 44%
Single-vehicle crash 44% 49%
Friday-Sunday 59% 50%
Of fatally injured drivers at night, BAC ≥ 0.08% 53% 58%
Fatally injured drivers with invalid licenses 25% 15%
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Driver error in crashes involving a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle 2005
Percent of motorcyclist
deaths
Passenger vehicle driver error 44
Motorcyclist error 35
Both assigned errors 11
Neither assigned errors 11
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Helmet use and alcohol-impairment among fatally injured motorcycle driversBy age, 2005
Helmeted (percent)
BAC ≥ 0.08 (percent)
younger than 30 62 19
30-39 55 35
40-49 50 37
50 and older 56 22
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Motorcyclist deathsMichigan and United States, 1975-2005
0
50
100
150
200
250
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
-500
500
1500
2500
3500
4500
5500
Michigan
US
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Motorcyclist deaths in MichiganBy age, 1975-2005
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
<30
30-39
40-49
50+
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Helmets are primary countermeasure for reducing crash-related head injuries
About half of motorcyclist deaths during 1979-1986 were attributed to head injuries (Sosin et al., 1990)
Helmets reduce risk of dying in a crash by about 40% (Deutermann, 2004; Norvell & Cummings, 2002)
In a crash, unhelmeted motorcyclists are 3 times more likely than helmeted cyclists to suffer traumatic brain injuries (NHTSA, 2005)
Advances in helmet design and materials continue to increase effectiveness
About half of motorcyclist deaths during 1979-1986 were attributed to head injuries (Sosin et al., 1990)
Helmets reduce risk of dying in a crash by about 40% (Deutermann, 2004; Norvell & Cummings, 2002)
In a crash, unhelmeted motorcyclists are 3 times more likely than helmeted cyclists to suffer traumatic brain injuries (NHTSA, 2005)
Advances in helmet design and materials continue to increase effectiveness
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Myths about helmets
Increase risk of neck injury: Many studies found that helmets reduce head injuries without increasing spinal and neck injuries (Orsay et al., 1994, 1995)
Obstruct peripheral vision: Helmets don’t reduce ability to see vehicle in adjacent lane (McKnight & McKnight, 1994)
Reduce hearing: No difference in hearing threshold with or without helmet; sounds audible above engine can be heard with helmet (McKnight & McKnight, 1994)
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International universal motorcycle helmet laws
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
India
Most countries in the European Union
Many other countries around the world
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Thailand
Venezuela
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States with universal helmet laws
0
10
20
30
40
50
1966 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 2000 02 04 06
1967: Helmet laws required for states to qualify for federal highway funds
1991: Incentive grants for helmet and safety belt laws
1976: Highway Safety Act removed authority to withhold funds from
states without helmet laws
1995: Grants removed
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Wall Street JournalDecember 1, 2004
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Helmet use laws in U.S. statesJanuary 1997 compared with January 2007Helmet use laws in U.S. statesJanuary 1997
MD
DE
DC
MA
OR
RINJ
NH
ME
PA
WV
NC
SC
GA
FL
OH
MI
INIL
WI
IA
MO
LA
NM
CO
SD
ID
CA
WA
TN
VT
MS
MT ND
NV
AZ
UT
WY
NE
KS
OK
TX
AR
MN
AL
KY VA
NY
CT
AK
HI
universal law
no law or limited law
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Observed motorcycle helmet use in U.S. (percent)NHTSA
0
20
40
60
80
100
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2005 2006
DOT-compliant
non-compliant
any helmet
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Observed motorcycle helmet use by universal helmet law status (percent)NHTSA
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1987 1989 1991
universal law
no/partial law
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Observed DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet use by universal helmet law status (percent)NHTSA
0
20
40
60
80
100
2002 2004 2006
universal lawno/partial law
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Effects of motorcycle helmet laws
Based on studies of state law changes, helmet use approaches 100% with a universal helmet law and about 50% with no law or a partial law
Motorcyclist deaths and injuries decline when helmet use is mandated and increase after laws are repealed or weakened
Based on studies of state law changes, helmet use approaches 100% with a universal helmet law and about 50% with no law or a partial law
Motorcyclist deaths and injuries decline when helmet use is mandated and increase after laws are repealed or weakened
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Percent change in motorcyclist deaths after enactment of universal helmet laws
California -37
Maryland -20
Oregon -33
Nebraska -32
Texas -23
Washington State -15
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Percent change in helmet use and motorcyclist deaths after laws were weakened
Helmet use Deaths
Arkansas -46 +21
Kentucky -32 +58
Louisiana -48 +108
Texas -32 +31
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Florida helmet law change
July 1, 2000: universal law weakened to exclude riders 21 and older with at least $10,000 in medical insurance
Secondary enforcement
Motorcyclist deaths almost doubled after law change
July 1, 2000: universal law weakened to exclude riders 21 and older with at least $10,000 in medical insurance
Secondary enforcement
Motorcyclist deaths almost doubled after law change
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IIHS study of effects of Florida helmet law change on motorcyclist deaths
Motorcycle registrations up dramatically after change
No reliable data on motorcycle miles traveled
Compared motorcyclist deaths per 1,000 crashes before law change (1998-99) versus after (2001-02)
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Observed helmet use before and after law change
Observed use of any helmet type declined from nearly 100% before law change to 53% after
Estimated DOT-compliant helmet use declined from 59% to 47%
Reliability of data on compliant vs. novelty helmet use not known
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Deaths per 1,000 crashes by vehicle type before and after law change, Florida
0
10
20
30
40
50
cars light trucks bicycles motorcycles
before
after
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Motorcyclist deaths per 1,000 crashes by rider age before and after law change, Florida
0
10
20
30
40
50
< 20 years 21-39 years 40+ years
before
after
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Motorcyclist deaths per 1,000 crashes before and after law change, Florida
Before After
Total 31 39
Single-vehicle 35 41
Multiple-vehicle 29 38
Driver 32 40
Passenger 22 35
Male 35 43
Female 14 19
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Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists before and after law change (percent), Florida
Before After
Total 88 39
Drivers 88 41
Passengers 92 17
Male operators 87 41
Female operators 91 37
Age < 20 72 55
Age 21-39 86 44
Age > 40 93 32
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Conclusions
Given involvement in a motorcycle crash, likelihood of death increased by 25% after law change
Increase occurred in all motorcyclist groups including riders younger than 21
117 motorcyclist deaths in 2001-02 could have been avoided if universal helmet law had been retained
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NHTSA study of Florida helmet law changePreusser Research Group
Motorcyclist deaths per 10,000 motorcycle registrations up 21% during two years after law change (2001-2002), compared to two years prior (1998-1999)
Hospital admissions from head, brain, and skull injuries increased 82% after law change.
Average cost per case of treating these injuries went from $34,518 to nearly $40,000
Less than one-quarter of treatment costs of injured motorcyclists would have been covered by $10,000 medical insurance requirement
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Motorcyclist deaths By age, 1975-2005
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
1975 80 85 90 95 2000 05
30-39 years old
< 29 years old
> 40 years old
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Probability of death in a motorcycle crash associated with helmet law change, age, and seating position, Florida
Odds Ratio
Operator vs. passenger 1.44
Age group (yrs)
< 20
21-39
> 40
0.75
0.94
1.00
After vs. before law change 1.25
