Studies from Thailand, Los Angeles Say Helmets Effective in Preventing Death, Injury

Two academic studies, separated by 25 years and thousands of miles, have come to the same fundamental conclusion:  using a motorcycle helmet helps prevent death and serious brain injuries in many crash victims.

One study looked at close to 1,100 motorcycle riders in Thailand, in 1999 and 2000. The other survey, in Los Angeles, was conducted in 1976-77, and involved 900 riders.

Both studies reportedly used the same basic methodology to collect and analyze data obtained at crash scenes. These similarities allowed for comparisons; even though the results came from different cultures, traffic patterns, helmet and motorcycle types – and even eras.

Forty percent of the riders in the Los Angeles study wore motorcycle helmets. The ones not wearing helmets were more than twice as likely to be killed, compared to helmeted riders. The helmeted riders, meanwhile, made up 40% of the Los Angeles sample – but only 23% of the fatalities.

About half of the riders in the Thai survey wore motorcycle helmets. According to that study, unhelmeted riders were more than three times as likely to be killed – and also more than three times as likely to suffer a brain injury.

A comparison of the two surveys concludes that if all the riders in the Thailand and Los Angeles studies had worn motorcycle helmets, crash fatalities could have been reduced by about 70 percent – and potentially debilitating brain injuries by about 60 percent.

Reference: Ouellet JV, Kasantikul V. Traffic Injury Prevention, 2006; 7:49-54

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