Helmet laws

In this paper I will debate the pros and cons of the controversial motorcycle helmet law. 

One would think that this alone should be a sufficient incentive to use a helmet Unfortunately this is not the case. In the U.S. where there are active and effective anti-helmet motorcyclist lobbying groups, only 21 states (out of 50) have universal helmet laws requiring the use of a helmet by all riders, and even in these states - based on direct observations - in 2006 only 68 percent of the riders used Department of Transportation compliant helmets while an additional 15 percent used non-compliant helmets that do not offer the desired level of protection. In states that do not have universal helmet laws only 37 percent of the riders were observed with Department of Transportation compliant helmets (Glassbrenner and Ye, 2006). 

Quasi-experimental evaluation of the introduction of universal helmet laws. Mandatory helmet laws have been a very effective means of increasing helmet usage and rider safety. The most effective laws are known as xmiversal helmet laws. These laws require that all motorcycle riders at all times wear a helmet, without any exceptions. In contrast to these laws are limited (or state) helmet laws, which are often the resulting compromise between safety advocates and motorcycle riders lobbyists. These laws require helmet use only for specific sub-groups such as riders under a certain age, riders in the learning phase, and riders with less than a year of experience. Whenever they are compared, the limited helmet laws are less effective in reducing deaths and injuries than the universal helmet laws (Ichikawa et al., 2003 Sosin and Sacks,... 

However, even the universal helmet laws often yield less-than-expected benefits. The main reason for this is that even with the law, not all riders wear helmets, and among those who do, some wear novelty or fake helmets that have a hard shell but do not have an energy-absorbing liner (Ouellet and Kasantikul, 2006). As such they protect their riders mostly from the sun. 

Compliance with the laws is greatly determined by the level of enforcement. In the U.S. helmet use in the late 1980 s and early 1990 s in states that had universal helmet laws was close to 100 percent. Since the beginning of this century use rate in these states has dropped to less than 68 percent (Glassbrenner and Ye, 2006). In the case of helmets, enforcement is quite easy because the absence of a helmet is quite conspicuous - certainly more than the use or non-use of belts. When strictly enforced use rates quickly increase to near full compliance. For example, in the 16 southern European Union countries where helmet use is required, over 90 percent of motorcyclists wear their helmets (Avenoso and Beckmann, 2005). 

Another reason for the less-than-expected benefits of helmet laws is that adding a helmet does not imply that all other things remain the same . In fact, it has been argued that wearing a helmet by some riders who previously did not use it may provide an incentive to increase risk in other ways - such as speeding - in accordance with the risk compensation hypothesis (Graham and Lee, 1986). Apparently, for many riders the need for a sense of freedom is greater than the need to live. 

Quasi-experimental evaluation of the repeal of universal helmet laws. For various reasons, especially in motorized countries, safety improves over time (see Chapter 1). Thus, in many of the studies reviewed above attempts were made to control for confounding factors that would have accounted for the time related improvements in safety that are not due to the passing of universal helmet laws. But invariably not all potential confounding factors can be controlled, and not all are even known. Therefore, in places where helmet laws are repealed or weakened... 

Table 16-6, Average percent of riders with various outcomes out of all hospitalized riders following a motorcycle crash in 17 U.S. states with universal helmet laws and in 16 states without universal helmet laws (from Coben et al., 2007, with permission from Elsevier)...

The Percent of riders who States with Universal helmet laws (17) States with no helmet laws or partial law (16)... 

Branas, C. C. and M, M. Knudson (2001). Helmet laws and motorcycle rider death rates. Accid. Anal Prev., 33, 641-648. 

Coben, J. H., C. A. Steiner and T. R. Miller (2007). Characteristics of motorcycle-related hospitalizations Comparing states with different helmet laws. Accid. Anal Prev., 9 190-196. 

Fleming, H. S. and E. R. Becker (1992). The impact of the Texas 1989 motorcycle helmet law on total and head-related fatalities, severe injuries, and overall... 

Hotz, G. A., S. M. Cohn, C. Popkin, P. Ekeh, R. Duncan, E. W. Johnson, F. Pemas and J. Selem (2002). The Impact of a Repealed Motorcycle Helmet Law in Miami-Dade County. J. Trauma-Inj. Infection Critical Care, 52(3), 469-474. 

Kyrychenko, S. Y. and A. T. McCartt (2006). Florida s Weakened Motorcycle Helmet Law Effects on Death Rates in Motorcycle Crashes. Traffic Inj. Prev., 7,55-60. 

Morris, C. C. (2006). Generalized linear regression analysis of association of imiversal helmet laws with motorcyclist fatality rates. Accid. Anal Prev., 38, 142-147. Muller, A. (2004). Florida s Motorcycle Helmet Law Repeal and Fatality Rates. Am. J. Pub. Health, 94(4), 556-558. 

Preusser, D. F., J. H. Hedlund and R. G. Ulmer (2000). Evaluation of motorcycle helmet law repeal in Arkansas and Texas. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Report DTNH22-97-D-05018. U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington DC. 

Some sound research findings are often ignored due to lack of political will. Reluctance to enact primary belt laws and motorcycle helmet laws are prime examples. They also exemplify the conflict between safety and other norms (in this case individual freedom). 

No state has a universal bicycle hehnet law. Only 21 states and the District of Columbia have statewide bicycle helmet laws, and they apply only to young riders (often riders younger than 16). Local ordinances in a few other states require bicycle helmets for some or all riders. 

NHTSA. Evaluation of the repeal of the all-rider helmet law in Florida. 2005, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC. 

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