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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Facts About Motorcycle Helmet Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration encourages states to have and enforce laws requiring the use of motorcycle helmets by the operators and the passengers. The passage of such laws has been the most effective method of increasing the number of riders wearing motorcycle helmets. It has been shown that motorcycle helmets provide the best protection from head injury. As strange as it sounds, surprisingly there are only 20 states that have universal motorcycle helmet laws today. In 1975 nearly all states required the use of motorcycle helmets according to the April '08 issue of Science Daily. I guess it's no surprise the motorcycle fatality rate has increased in the states not enforcing the universal motorcycle helmet laws. The following are some alarming facts:

  • According to NHTSA, in 2006, 4810 motorcyclists died and approximately 88,000 were injured in highway crashes in the U.S.
  • Per mile traveled in 2006, a motorcyclist is approximately 37 times more likely to die in a crash that someone riding in a passenger car.
  • Head injury is a leading cause of death in a motorcycle accident.
  • Riders not wearing motorcycle helmets are 40% more likely to suffer a fatal head injury and 15 times more likely to suffer non-fatal injuries than those riders wearing motorcycle helmets.
  • From 1984 through 2006 motorcycle helmets saved the lives of 19,230.
  • A 1994 study by the National Public Services Research Institute concluded that wearing a motorcycle helmet does not impair peripheral vision or the riders' ability to hear auditory signals.
  • Since 1997, six states Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Florida and Pennsylvania) have weakened universal helmet laws to limit coverage to those under a specific age. These six states were the first since 1983 to repeal or weaken a universal motorcycle helmet law. In August 2004, Louisiana reenacted a universal motorcycle helmet use law.

It seems strange that laws such as this are necessary. You would think common sense would apply here. We only get one head in this life, doesn't it make sense to protect it? Come on people, wear your motorcycle helmets.

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