Changes in motorcycle-related head injury deaths, hospitalizations, and hospital charges following repeal of Pennsylvania's mandatory motorcycle helmet law.
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 18556613.
- Also identified by DOI 10.2105/AJPH.2007.123299 and PMC identifier 2446440.
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Abstract
To evaluate the 2003 repeal of Pennsylvania's motorcycle helmet law, we assessed changes in helmet use and compared motorcycle-related head injuries with non-head injuries from 2001-2002 to 2004-2005. Helmet use among riders in crashes decreased from 82% to 58%. Head injury deaths increased 66%; nonhead injury deaths increased 25%. Motorcycle-related head injury hospitalizations increased 78% compared with 28% for nonhead injury hospitalizations. Helmet law repeals jeopardize motorcycle riders. Until repeals are reversed, states need voluntary strategies to increase helmet use.
Medical subject headings
- Accidents, Traffic
- Craniocerebral Trauma
- Head Protective Devices
- Motorcycles