King Vino
08-09-2004, 07:01 PM
Helmet safety facts:
According to 2002 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,244 motorcycle occupants were killed on our nation's roads last year, a 1.5% increase from 2001. Motorcycle helmets have been shown to save the lives of motorcyclists and prevent serious brain injuries. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia require helmet use by all motorcycle drivers and their passengers. Twenty-eight other states have laws only covering some riders, especially those younger than 18. Three states - Colorado, Illinois, and Iowa - have no helmet requirements at all. All-rider helmet laws are effective in increasing motorcycle helmet use, thereby saving lives and reducing serious injuries.
Motorcycles make up less than 2% of all registered vehicles and only 0.4% of all vehicle miles traveled, but motorcyclists account for 8% of total traffic fatalities. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, 2001)
In 2001, there were 68 deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles, compared with 16 deaths per 100,000 registered cars. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, 2001)
Fatalities among motorcycle riders have increased by more than 50% since 1997. (NHTSA, 2002)
Per vehicle miles traveled, motorcyclists are about 21 times as likely as passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash and four times as likely to be injured. (NHTSA, 2001)
In 2001, 39% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding, approximately twice the rate for drivers of passenger cars or light trucks. The percentage of alcohol involvement was 37% higher for motorcyclists than for drivers of passenger vehicles. (NHTSA, 2001)
Motorcyclist fatalities are rising fastest among motorcycle riders over age 40. Fatalities among this age group have increased by 150% since 1990. (IIHS, 2002)
Helmets reduce the risk of death by 29% and are 67% effective in preventing brain injuries to motorcycle riders. (NHTSA, 2001)
MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW FACTS
Surveys have shown that helmet use is essentially 100% in places with all-rider motorcycle helmet laws compared to 34 to 54% at locations with no helmet laws or with age-specific helmet laws. All-rider laws significantly increase helmet use because they are easy to enforce due to the rider's high visibility. (NHTSA, 2000)
Motorcycle helmets saved the lives of an estimated 674 motorcyclists in 2001. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 444 lives could have been saved. (NHTSA, 2001)
According to a California study, helmet use is the single most important factor in preventing death and head injury to motorcyclists. (McLoughlin, 1990)
The average hospital charge for motorcyclists with serious head injuries was found to be almost three times that of motorcyclists with mild or no head injuries, $43,214 v. $15,528. (Orsay, et al., 1994)
In 1997, Arkansas and Texas repealed all-rider helmet laws. As of May 1998, helmet use fell from 97% in both states to 52% in Arkansas and 66% in Texas. Motorcycle operator fatalities increased by 21% in Arkansas and 31% in Texas. (NHTSA, 2000)
In 1992, the first year of California's all-rider motorcycle helmet law, 327 motorcyclists died in traffic crashes, compared to 512 in 1991 - a 36% reduction in fatalities in one year. Additionally, the number of hospitalized brain-injured motorcyclists fell by over 50%, from 1,258 in 1991 to 588 in 1992. (California Highway Patrol, 1999, Trauma Foundation, 2002)
After passage of Maryland's all-rider motorcycle helmet law in 1992, motorcyclist deaths dropped dramatically - 20% in 1993 and 30% from 1993-1994. (Maryland Department of Transportation)
In Oregon, there was a 33% reduction in motorcycle fatalities the year after the helmet law was re-enacted. Nebraska experienced a 32% reduction in fatalities the first year of its law. Texas experienced a 23% reduction in fatalities; Washington, a 15% reduction; California, a 37% reduction; and, Maryland, a 20% reduction. (NHTSA, 2001)
By an overwhelming majority (81%), Americans favor state laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. (Lou Harris, for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, 2001)
An estimated $13.2 billion was saved from 1984 through 1999 because of motorcycle helmet use. An additional $11.1 billion could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets. (NHTSA, 2000)
Analysis of linked data from the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) in three states with all-rider helmet laws showed that without the law, the total extra patient charges due to brain injury would have been almost doubled from $2.3 million to $4 million.
According to 2002 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,244 motorcycle occupants were killed on our nation's roads last year, a 1.5% increase from 2001. Motorcycle helmets have been shown to save the lives of motorcyclists and prevent serious brain injuries. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia require helmet use by all motorcycle drivers and their passengers. Twenty-eight other states have laws only covering some riders, especially those younger than 18. Three states - Colorado, Illinois, and Iowa - have no helmet requirements at all. All-rider helmet laws are effective in increasing motorcycle helmet use, thereby saving lives and reducing serious injuries.
Motorcycles make up less than 2% of all registered vehicles and only 0.4% of all vehicle miles traveled, but motorcyclists account for 8% of total traffic fatalities. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, 2001)
In 2001, there were 68 deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles, compared with 16 deaths per 100,000 registered cars. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, 2001)
Fatalities among motorcycle riders have increased by more than 50% since 1997. (NHTSA, 2002)
Per vehicle miles traveled, motorcyclists are about 21 times as likely as passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash and four times as likely to be injured. (NHTSA, 2001)
In 2001, 39% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding, approximately twice the rate for drivers of passenger cars or light trucks. The percentage of alcohol involvement was 37% higher for motorcyclists than for drivers of passenger vehicles. (NHTSA, 2001)
Motorcyclist fatalities are rising fastest among motorcycle riders over age 40. Fatalities among this age group have increased by 150% since 1990. (IIHS, 2002)
Helmets reduce the risk of death by 29% and are 67% effective in preventing brain injuries to motorcycle riders. (NHTSA, 2001)
MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW FACTS
Surveys have shown that helmet use is essentially 100% in places with all-rider motorcycle helmet laws compared to 34 to 54% at locations with no helmet laws or with age-specific helmet laws. All-rider laws significantly increase helmet use because they are easy to enforce due to the rider's high visibility. (NHTSA, 2000)
Motorcycle helmets saved the lives of an estimated 674 motorcyclists in 2001. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 444 lives could have been saved. (NHTSA, 2001)
According to a California study, helmet use is the single most important factor in preventing death and head injury to motorcyclists. (McLoughlin, 1990)
The average hospital charge for motorcyclists with serious head injuries was found to be almost three times that of motorcyclists with mild or no head injuries, $43,214 v. $15,528. (Orsay, et al., 1994)
In 1997, Arkansas and Texas repealed all-rider helmet laws. As of May 1998, helmet use fell from 97% in both states to 52% in Arkansas and 66% in Texas. Motorcycle operator fatalities increased by 21% in Arkansas and 31% in Texas. (NHTSA, 2000)
In 1992, the first year of California's all-rider motorcycle helmet law, 327 motorcyclists died in traffic crashes, compared to 512 in 1991 - a 36% reduction in fatalities in one year. Additionally, the number of hospitalized brain-injured motorcyclists fell by over 50%, from 1,258 in 1991 to 588 in 1992. (California Highway Patrol, 1999, Trauma Foundation, 2002)
After passage of Maryland's all-rider motorcycle helmet law in 1992, motorcyclist deaths dropped dramatically - 20% in 1993 and 30% from 1993-1994. (Maryland Department of Transportation)
In Oregon, there was a 33% reduction in motorcycle fatalities the year after the helmet law was re-enacted. Nebraska experienced a 32% reduction in fatalities the first year of its law. Texas experienced a 23% reduction in fatalities; Washington, a 15% reduction; California, a 37% reduction; and, Maryland, a 20% reduction. (NHTSA, 2001)
By an overwhelming majority (81%), Americans favor state laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. (Lou Harris, for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, 2001)
An estimated $13.2 billion was saved from 1984 through 1999 because of motorcycle helmet use. An additional $11.1 billion could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets. (NHTSA, 2000)
Analysis of linked data from the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) in three states with all-rider helmet laws showed that without the law, the total extra patient charges due to brain injury would have been almost doubled from $2.3 million to $4 million.