Motorcycles Increase in China:
Injuries Increase Too
With China’s developing economy has come a shift in modes of transportation. Walking and bicycling are giving way to motorcycling and use of four-wheel vehicles. Along with this increase in motorized use is an increase in traffic injuries and fatalities. To study this emerging public health problem, crash data from the National Bureau for Traffic Administration from 1987 to 2001 and crash records from local police offices in 20 counties of Guangxi Region for 1997 to 2001 were obtained. Additionally, questionnaires were used to gather information to identify risk factors.
Ownership, fatalities and injuries increase rapidly
Nationally, motorcycles accounted for 23.4 percent of all registered vehicles in 1987. This increased to 63.2 percent in 2001. Motorcyclist fatalities increased about 6-fold and injuries 9-fold between 1987 and 2001. In Guangxi Region, between 1997 and 2001, motorcycles were 76-79 percent of the total motor vehicles. Motorcycle fatalities, as a proportion of road traffic fatalities, increased from 22.9 percent in 1997 to 37.5 percent in 2001.
Risk factors revealed
Of the 4,768 motorcyclists who responded to the study questionnaires, 56 percent wore helmets but only 16 percent of these wore properly secured, standard (as opposed to sub-standard) helmets. Variables significantly associated with helmet non-use versus helmet-use were the following:
- Riding on rural roads versus riding on urban streets
- Riding in the morning or evening versus riding during the daytime.
- Being unmarried versus married.
- Having only a high school education compared to having a college education.
- Living in rural areas versus urban areas.
Additionally passengers, drivers without a license, and those riding small engine motorcycles were less likely to wear a helmet than drivers, those with a license, and those riding larger bikes.
What to do?
With the increase of motorcycle ownership in China, motorcycle injury is emerging as a serious public health problem. Although China does have helmet use legislation, this study shows there are other factors associated with high rates of non-use. Such information can be used to guide campaigns and promote initiatives to reduce and prevent the growing problem of motorcycle injuries and fatalities.
Submitted by: Dr Junhua Zhang, Assistant Director General, Health Human Resources Development Center, Ministry of Health, China and Professor Robyn Norton, Principal Director, The George Institute for International Health, Australia
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