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Surgeons Support Helmet Laws
In a strong and authoritative statement, America’s leading surgical organization, the American College of Surgeons, stated its support for state laws that require helmet wearing for all motorcycle riders and its resistance to the repeal of helmet laws currently in place (1, 2).
In the statement, published in the August 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the surgeons’ group cited the following as reasons for their support:
- effectiveness of helmets in reducing the proportion of severe head injuries;
- increased likelihood that unhelmeted riders suffer brain injuries;
- increased hospital costs for injuries in unhelmeted motorcycle riders; and
- the effectiveness of helmet wearing laws in increasing helmet use.
An accompanying editorial noted that surveys conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed there was strong public support of motorcycle helmet laws. However, in many states, according to the Editorial, public policy makers were debating how to balance personal freedom against the societal costs of crashes. Those opposed to helmet laws argue that individual rights are infringed upon. Others opposed to helmet wearing argue that motorcycle helmets increase spinal cord injuries, decrease the ability of a rider to see or hear, and are uncomfortable to wear. The Editorial states, “None of these claims is supported by good science.” In fact, published studies suggest a higher incidence of severe neck injuries in riders without helmets and a decreased number of significant spinal injuries in helmeted riders (3).
The Editorial concluded, “the surgical community has an obligation to actively participate in legislative efforts to enact or prevent repeal of mandatory universal motorcycle helmet laws.”
References
(1) American College of Surgeons. Statement of Support of Motorcycle Helmet Laws. J American College of Surgeons. 2004;199:260.
(2) Knudson MM, Schermer C, Speetzen L and the Subcommittee on Injury Prevention and Control of the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons. Motorcycle Helmet laws: Every Surgeon’s Responsibility. J American College of Surgeons. 2004:199;261-4.
(3) Orsay E, Holden JA, Williams J et al. Motorcycle trauma in the state of Illinois: analysis of the Department of Public Health trauma registry. Annals of Emergency Medicine 1995;26:455-460.
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