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Related Experiment Videos

Motorcycle helmet use in Texas.

A K Lund1, A F Williams, K N Womack

  • 1Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Arlington, VA 22201.

Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)
|September 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Motorcycle helmets significantly reduce head injuries and fatalities. A comprehensive Texas helmet law, reinstated in 1989, dramatically increased helmet usage to over 95%.

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Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Injury Prevention
  • Traffic Safety

Background:

  • Motorcycle helmets are proven to reduce head injuries and fatalities by approximately 30%.
  • Texas previously had a comprehensive helmet law from 1968-1977, which saved an estimated 650 lives.
  • A 1977 amendment restricted helmet use to riders under 18, diminishing safety benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a comprehensive motorcycle helmet use law reinstated in Texas in 1989.
  • To assess changes in motorcycle helmet usage rates following the implementation of the new law.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study conducted in 18 Texas cities.
  • Helmet usage surveys conducted before and after the 1989 law implementation.
  • Survey design captured a cross-section of urban and suburban traffic.

Main Results:

  • Motorcycle helmet usage increased from under 50% before the law to 90% immediately after.
  • Helmet usage further increased to over 95% within two months of the law taking effect.
  • The comprehensive law demonstrated significant effectiveness in promoting helmet use.

Conclusions:

  • Comprehensive motorcycle helmet use laws are highly effective in increasing helmet usage.
  • Reinstatement of the law led to widespread adoption of helmet use among motorcyclists.
  • These laws are crucial for realizing the public health benefits of motorcycle helmets in reducing injuries and deaths.

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