According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle registrations increased by 75 percent during 1997-2006. Analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety of data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows that fatalities in motorcycle crashes increased by 128 percent during the same period. Unlike automobiles, motorcycles offer little if any occupant protection. Only 20 percent of automobile crashes result in injury or death, whereas 80 percent of motorcycle crashes have this outcome. To reduce or prevent head injuries, motorcycle helmets are designed to cushion and protect riders' heads from impacts during crashes. States began adopting laws to require helmet use in 1967; by the early 1970s, almost all states had universal motorcycle helmet laws ("universal" in the sense that laws covered all riders). However, since the mid-1970's, some states have repealed their motorcycle helmet laws, and many others have limited them to cover riders younger than a certain age; age requirements for these young riders range from 14 to 20. As of November 2009, 20 states have universal helmet laws, and 27 states have partial helmet laws; Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire have no mandatory helmet laws. When all motorcyclists are required to wear helmets, use rates approach 100 percent, compared with about 50 percent when there are no helmet laws or laws that apply only to some riders.According to NHTSA, 97 percent of motorcyclists observed in states with universal helmet laws were wearing helmets in 2008, compared with 100 percent in 2002. In states without such laws, helmet use was 53 percent in 2002 and 54 percent in 2008. When used, helmets reduce the likelihood of crash fatality by 37 percent, and unhelmeted motorcyclists are three times more likely than helmeted riders to suffer traumatic brain injuries in the event of a crash. Not surprisingly then, research has shown large fluctuations in fatal crashes among motorcyclists when states have changed helmet use laws. For example, when Florida weakened its universal law in 2000 to apply only to riders younger than 21, fatal crashes increased about 21 percent. The effect of such law differences may be smaller for insured injuries because most injuries to motorcyclists are not life threatening. Still, some effect would be expected because head injuries are more likely without helmets, and any head injury is likely to precipitate medical treatment. The purpose of this study was to quantify the relationship between state helmet laws and the rate that medical payment claims arise from collision claims. The study included 49 states except Alaska was excluded due to very low motorcycle exposure. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting