Stringent Traffic Laws May Have Increased Helmet Use in One Brazilian City

New traffic laws, with strict and costly penalties for violators, may have contributed to a rise in the number of motorcyclists wearing helmets in one Brazilian metropolitan area.

Researchers in Londrina, a city of nearly 500 000 people in southern Brazil, analyzed the  use of safety devices by injury victims. The analysis was based on data from the local emergency and trauma care service between early 1997 and the end of 2000.

Brazil implemented a new traffic code in January 1998 that penalizes motorcyclists not wearing helmets and automobile drivers and occupants not wearing seat belts. In addition to the substantial fines, motorcyclists riding without helmets also risk having their motorcycles impounded by police.

While the rate of motorcycle crashes in Londrina remained relatively constant during that four-year period, the number of motorcycle crash victims not wearing helmets declined dramatically – from 62.5% in 1997 to 13.9% in 2000. During the same period, the rate of not wearing automobile seat belts declined from 54% to about 36% from 1997 to 1998, and then remained at about the same level up to 2000.

The new traffic code appeared to have had a dramatic effect increasing the use of helmets and motorcyclists, but this effect was not as great on automobile drivers. The reasons for this are unclear, although the authors felt that higher fines and possible motorcycle impoundment may explain why the impact on increased safety use was greater for the motorcyclists than automobile operators. The authors recommended that new strategies to increase helmet and seat belt use be developed to compliment the traffic code.

Reference: Seat belts and helmet use among victims of traffic accidents in a city of Southern Brazil, 1997-2000. Bastos, YGL, de Andrade SM, Soares DA, Matsuo T. Public Health 2005;119:930-932.

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