Motorcycle-related trauma and helmet usage in North Dakota

A descriptive epidemiologic study utilizing a multi-disciplinary reporting format was undertaken to assess the impact of helmet usage on motorcycle trauma in North Dakota from 1977 through 1980. This approach yielded an 82.6% reporting increase compared to previous data collection techniques. More than 60% of the 2,934 crashes involved unhelmeted cyclists. Two-thirds of all crashes resulted in injury, with head, neck, and face (HNF) trauma accounting for 21.4% of all lesions. Compared to their helmeted counterparts, helmetless riders suffered HNF trauma 2.30 times as often, and were 3.19 times as susceptible to fatal injuries. the number of injuries and the severity of trauma were significantly higher (P = .01) for those individuals not wearing helmets. A substantial decline in usage occurred in those under 18 years of age, despite the legal requirement that this group wear protective headgear.