Fall 2005 archive of past newsletters

Motorcycle Helmet Use Down, Deaths Up
Are You Surprised?

Of course not – it's no surprise for those who know that helmets work. However, there is a bit more to the story. In the United States, two phenomena are occurring which may be influencing the increase in death and injury rates. First is the increase in motorcycle risk; second is the decrease in helmet use. And unfortunately, as Dr. Daniel R. Wehner, emergency physician says, “We can fix arms and legs but for a brain injury, there’s very little we can do.”

Increase in risk
In 2003, U.S. deaths were up 11 percent over 2002 and were up almost 70 percent since 1997. There were 50 percent more deaths per mile in 2002 than in 1997. Yet no one is quite sure why. Perhaps the increasing age of riders has something to do with it. There are no precise statistics on the age of riders, but the federal government does track those who die. Deaths among people 50 and over were up 24 percent in 2002; deaths among those under 40 declined slightly.

Older riders have more money to purchase bigger and faster bikes and bikes are bigger and faster these days! And while big engines have caught on, sophisticated braking control systems have not. Many of the heavier and faster motorcycles now have power-assisted disc brakes but most lack antilock brakes. Front and rear controls are separate so the operator must decide how much force to apply to each brake – a decision and execution which may be difficult in an emergency situation. Brake wear shows that riders do it incorrectly, avoiding the front brake even though it has 70 to 80 percent of the stopping potential.

Decrease in helmet use
The repeal of helmet laws in 31 states certainly may have contributed to the increase in death and brain injury. Older riders may be taking off their helmets as they upgrade to a bigger machine. Dr. Wehner saw six riders in his emergency department on Sunday of Memorial Day 2002. All were at least 40. One, who had been wearing a helmet, had a broken leg. The other five, without helmets, had brain injuries. Pennsylvania had recently repealed its helmet law.

Are older riders more vulnerable because of slower reflexes or impaired judgement? Some assume that older riders may be more careful; others disagree. The federal government is eager to reduce the carnage but, beyond advocating helmets, is not sure how. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to know why motorcycles are crashing in the first place. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation, financed by manufacturers, acknowledges that rider training has little impact after the first six months of riding.

Clearly there is ample opportunity for research into the risk factors of motorcycle riding, age of rider, causes of crashes and helmet use. The questions need to be precisely framed, exact answers determined, and prevention developed.

Excerpted from the New York Times, June 14, 2004

back to Headlines