IIHS Michigan Traffic Safety Summit 2007 Anne T. McCartt East Lansing, MI  March 14, 2007 Motorcycle Helmets: What’s the Latest Research?

IIHS

Motorcycle crashes National problem size and status  Per mile traveled, there were 34 motorcyclist deaths for every car occupant death in 2004  4,439 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2005, more than double the all-time low in 1997 and 15% higher than in 2004  Increase in deaths not fully explained by increased exposure; FHWA estimates that motorcycle registrations increased by 63% from 1997 to 2005  Per mile traveled, there were 34 motorcyclist deaths for every car occupant death in 2004  4,439 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2005, more than double the all-time low in 1997 and 15% higher than in 2004  Increase in deaths not fully explained by increased exposure; FHWA estimates that motorcycle registrations increased by 63% from 1997 to 2005

IIHS Motorcyclist deaths By age, years old ≤ 29 years old years old 50+ years old

IIHS Characteristics of crash deaths 2005 Motorcyclists Passenger vehicle occupants Male90%65% Age 40 or older47%44% Single-vehicle crash44%49% Friday-Sunday59%50% Of fatally injured drivers at night, BAC ≥ 0.08%53%58% Fatally injured drivers with invalid licenses25%15%

IIHS Driver error in crashes involving a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle 2005 Percent of motorcyclist deaths Passenger vehicle driver error44 Motorcyclist error35 Both assigned errors11 Neither assigned errors11

IIHS Helmet use and alcohol-impairment among fatally injured motorcycle drivers By age, 2005 Helmeted (percent) BAC ≥ 0.08 (percent) younger than and older5622

IIHS Motorcyclist deaths Michigan and United States,

IIHS Motorcyclist deaths in Michigan By age,

IIHS Helmets are primary countermeasure for reducing crash-related head injuries  About half of motorcyclist deaths during were attributed to head injuries (Sosin et al., 1990)  Helmets reduce risk of dying in a crash by about 40% (Deutermann, 2004; Norvell & Cummings, 2002)  In a crash, unhelmeted motorcyclists are 3 times more likely than helmeted cyclists to suffer traumatic brain injuries (NHTSA, 2005)  Advances in helmet design and materials continue to increase effectiveness  About half of motorcyclist deaths during were attributed to head injuries (Sosin et al., 1990)  Helmets reduce risk of dying in a crash by about 40% (Deutermann, 2004; Norvell & Cummings, 2002)  In a crash, unhelmeted motorcyclists are 3 times more likely than helmeted cyclists to suffer traumatic brain injuries (NHTSA, 2005)  Advances in helmet design and materials continue to increase effectiveness

IIHS Myths about helmets  Increase risk of neck injury: Many studies found that helmets reduce head injuries without increasing spinal and neck injuries (Orsay et al., 1994, 1995)  Obstruct peripheral vision: Helmets don’t reduce ability to see vehicle in adjacent lane (McKnight & McKnight, 1994)  Reduce hearing: No difference in hearing threshold with or without helmet; sounds audible above engine can be heard with helmet (McKnight & McKnight, 1994)

IIHS International universal motorcycle helmet laws  Argentina  Australia  Brazil  Canada  India  Most countries in the European Union  Many other countries around the world  Indonesia  Japan  Malaysia  Thailand  Venezuela

IIHS States with universal helmet laws 1967: Helmet laws required for states to qualify for federal highway funds 1991: Incentive grants for helmet and safety belt laws 1976: Highway Safety Act removed authority to withhold funds from states without helmet laws 1995: Grants removed

IIHS Wall Street Journal December 1, 2004

IIHS Helmet use laws in U.S. states January 1997 compared with January 2007 Helmet use laws in U.S. states January 1997 MD DE DC MA OR RI NJ NH ME PA WV NC SC GA FL OH MI IN IL WI IA MO LA NM CO SD ID CA WA TN VT MS MT ND NV AZ UT WY NE KS OK TX AR MN AL KY VA NY CT AK HI universal law no law or limited law

IIHS Observed motorcycle helmet use in U.S. (percent) NHTSA

IIHS Observed motorcycle helmet use by universal helmet law status (percent) NHTSA

IIHS Observed DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet use by universal helmet law status (percent) NHTSA

IIHS Effects of motorcycle helmet laws  Based on studies of state law changes, helmet use approaches 100% with a universal helmet law and about 50% with no law or a partial law  Motorcyclist deaths and injuries decline when helmet use is mandated and increase after laws are repealed or weakened  Based on studies of state law changes, helmet use approaches 100% with a universal helmet law and about 50% with no law or a partial law  Motorcyclist deaths and injuries decline when helmet use is mandated and increase after laws are repealed or weakened

IIHS Percent change in motorcyclist deaths after enactment of universal helmet laws California-37 Maryland-20 Oregon-33 Nebraska-32 Texas-23 Washington State-15

IIHS Percent change in helmet use and motorcyclist deaths after laws were weakened Helmet useDeaths Arkansas Kentucky Louisiana Texas-32+31

IIHS Florida helmet law change  July 1, 2000: universal law weakened to exclude riders 21 and older with at least $10,000 in medical insurance  Secondary enforcement  Motorcyclist deaths almost doubled after law change  July 1, 2000: universal law weakened to exclude riders 21 and older with at least $10,000 in medical insurance  Secondary enforcement  Motorcyclist deaths almost doubled after law change

IIHS IIHS study of effects of Florida helmet law change on motorcyclist deaths  Motorcycle registrations up dramatically after change  No reliable data on motorcycle miles traveled  Compared motorcyclist deaths per 1,000 crashes before law change ( ) versus after ( )

IIHS Observed helmet use before and after law change  Observed use of any helmet type declined from nearly 100% before law change to 53% after  Estimated DOT-compliant helmet use declined from 59% to 47%  Reliability of data on compliant vs. novelty helmet use not known

IIHS Deaths per 1,000 crashes by vehicle type before and after law change, Florida before after

IIHS Motorcyclist deaths per 1,000 crashes by rider age before and after law change, Florida before after

IIHS Motorcyclist deaths per 1,000 crashes before and after law change, Florida BeforeAfter Total3139 Single-vehicle3541 Multiple-vehicle2938 Driver3240 Passenger2235 Male3543 Female1419

IIHS Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists before and after law change (percent), Florida BeforeAfter Total8839 Drivers8841 Passengers9217 Male operators8741 Female operators9137 Age < Age Age >

IIHS Conclusions  Given involvement in a motorcycle crash, likelihood of death increased by 25% after law change  Increase occurred in all motorcyclist groups including riders younger than 21  117 motorcyclist deaths in could have been avoided if universal helmet law had been retained

IIHS NHTSA study of Florida helmet law change Preusser Research Group  Motorcyclist deaths per 10,000 motorcycle registrations up 21% during two years after law change ( ), compared to two years prior ( )  Hospital admissions from head, brain, and skull injuries increased 82% after law change.  Average cost per case of treating these injuries went from $34,518 to nearly $40,000  Less than one-quarter of treatment costs of injured motorcyclists would have been covered by $10,000 medical insurance requirement

IIHS Anne McCartt Senior Vice-President, Research

IIHS Motorcyclist deaths By age, years old < 29 years old > 40 years old

IIHS Probability of death in a motorcycle crash associated with helmet law change, age, and seating position, Florida Odds Ratio Operator vs. passenger1.44 Age group (yrs) < > After vs. before law change1.25