Motorcycle Safety: Helmets Save Lives

 Deaths and injuries from motorcycle crashes are an important public health concern. Motorcycle helmet use is a proven way to save lives.

The Reality

Preventing serious injuries and deaths from motorcycle crashes is a major and growing public health concern. 

Consider that:

Motorcycle crashes killed 5,290 people in 2008.

The number of motorcycle-related deaths increased every year between 1997 and 2008.

Motorcycle crash-related injuries and deaths totaled $12 billion in one year, in medical care costs and productivity losses.

Helmets are estimated to prevent 37 percent of fatal motorcycle injuries for motorcycle riders (operators) and 41 percent of fatal injuries for motorcycle passengers.

A Proven Safety Measure

 Helmets save motorcycle riders' lives.

Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69%. In a motorcycle crash, an unhelmeted rider is 40% more likely to die from a head injury than someone wearing a helmet.

In 2008, helmets saved over 1,800 riders' lives, but about 800 more lives could have been saved if all riders had worn helmets.

Laws That Save Lives

This type of law requires all motorcycle riders and passengers of all ages to wear helmets whenever they ride.

See Fact Sheets and Helmet Laws by State.

The most effective way to get people to wear helmets is the universal helmet law.

Each state decides its respective helmet law. As of 2010, 20 states and the District of Columbia had universal helmet laws, 27 states had a partial helmet law, and 3 states had no helmet law.

Safety Tips for Riders

• Always wear a DOT-approved helmet.
• Never drive your motorcycle after drinking. Alcohol greatly impairs your ability to safely operate a motorcycle. If you have been drinking, get a ride home or call a taxi.
• Don't let friends ride impaired. Take their keys away.
• Wear protective clothing that provides some level of injury protection. Upper body clothing should also include bright colors or reflective materials, so that other motorists can more easily see you.
• Avoid tailgating and riding between lanes.
• Maintain a safe speed and exercise caution when traveling over slippery surfaces or gravel.

Motorcycle Helmets

 In 2008, 5,290 motorcycle riders were killed on our nation's roads last year, and 96,000 injured, an increase for the eleventh year in a row. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - NHTSA)  Motorcycle helmets have been shown to save the lives of motorcyclists and prevent serious brain injuries. Twenty states and the District of Columbia require helmet use by all motorcycle drivers and their passengers. Twenty-seven other states have laws only covering some riders, especially those younger than 18. Three states - Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire - have no helmet requirements at all. All-rider helmet laws are effective in increasing motorcycle helmet use, thereby saving lives and reducing serious injuries.

As states repeal helmet laws, fewer riders are wearing helmets.  Helmet use nationally has declined from 71 percent in 2000 to 63 percent in 2008.

MOTORCYCLIST FACTS

Motorcycles make up nearly 3% of all registered vehicles and only 0.4% of all vehicle miles traveled, but motorcyclists account for over 9% of total traffic fatalities. (NHTSA, 2009)

In 2007, 63% of fatally injured motorcycle riders were not wearing a helmet in states without all-rider helmet laws, compared with only 14% in states with all-rider helmet laws. (NHTSA, 2008)

Motorcyclists are about 37 percent more likely as passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash. (NHTSA, 2009)

In 2008, 35 percent of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared to 23 percent drivers of passenger cars, and 19 percent for light trucks. The percentage of alcohol involvement was 29 percent for motorcyclists, compared to 23 percent for drivers of passenger vehicles. (NHTSA, 2009)

Motorcyclist fatalities are rising fastest among motorcycle riders over age 40. In 2007 alone, fatalities increased by 7%. (NHTSA, 2008)

Helmets reduce the risk of death by 37% and are 67% effective in preventing brain injuries to motorcycle riders. (NHTSA, 2009)

MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW FACTS

Surveys have shown that helmet use is essentially 100% in places with all-rider motorcycle helmet laws compared to 53% 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, 2009)

NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,829 motorcyclists in 2008. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 823 lives could have been saved. (NHTSA, 2009)

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 (80%), Americans favor state laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets. (Lou Harris, for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, 2004)

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.