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AJPH First Look, published online ahead of print Jun 12, 2008
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AJPH.2007.123299v1
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American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2007.123299

Research and Practice

Changes in Motorcycle-Related Head Injury Deaths, Hospitalizations, and Hospital Charges Following Repeal of Pennsylvania’s Mandatory Motorcycle Helmet Law

Kristen J. Mertz 1* Harold B. Weiss 2

1 University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health
2 University of Pittsburgh, Center for Injury Research and Control

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mertzk{at}edc.pitt.edu.


  Abstract

To evaluate the 2003 repeal of Pennsylvania’s motorcycle helmet law, we assessed changes in helmet use and compared motorcycle-related head injuries with nonhead injuries from 2001–2002 to 2004–2005. Helmet use among riders in crashes decreased from 82% to 58%. Head injury deaths increased 66%; nonhead injury deaths increased 25%. Motorcycle-related head injury hospitalizations increased 78% compared with 28% for nonhead injury hospitalizations. Helmet law repeals jeopardize motorcycle riders. Until repeals are reversed, states need voluntary strategies to increase helmet use.

Key Words: Epidemiology, Injury/Emergency Care/Violence, Mortality




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