HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2006.094615v1 97/11/2063    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Houston, D. J. Articles by Richardson, L. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Houston, D. J. Articles by Richardson, L. E., Jr Related Collections Social Science Health Policy Injury/Emergency Care/Violence Government Other Statistics/Evaluation/Research

David J. Houston, PhD and Lilliard E. Richardson, Jr, PhD

David J. Houston is with the Department of Political Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Lilliard E. Richardson Jr is with the Institute of Public Policy, Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri, Columbia.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to David J. Houston, PhD, Department of Political Science, 1001 McClung Tower, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996–0410 (e-mail:dhouston{at}utk.edu).

Objectives. We assessed the implications for motorcyclist safety of recent repeals of universal helmet laws in 6 US states.

Methods. We examined cross-sectional time-series data from the 50 states and the District of Columbia for the period 1975 through 2004.

Results. On average, when compared to state experience with no helmet mandate, universal helmet laws were associated with an 11.1% reduction in motorcyclist fatality rates, whereas rates in states with partial coverage statutes were not statistically different from those with no helmet law. Furthermore, in the states in which recent repeals of universal coverage have been instituted, the motorcyclist fatality rate increased by an average of 12.2% over what would have been expected had universal coverage been maintained. Since 1997, an additional 615 motorcyclist fatalities have occurred in these states as a result of these changes in motorcycle helmet laws.

Conclusions. Motorcyclist safety has been compromised in the states that have repealed universal coverage and is likely to be compromised in other states that abandon these statutes.