June 25, 2008 - Two University of Pittsburgh researchers have published a new study in the most recent edition of the American Journal of Public Health.  It is entitled “Changes in Motorcycle-Related Head Injury Deaths, Hospitalizations, and Hospital Charges Following Repeal of Pennsylvania’s Mandatory Motorcycle Helmet Law,” and it is available for a small fee from the American Journal of Public Health.

The researchers are Kristen J. Mertz of the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health and Harold B. Weiss, University of Pittsburgh, Center for Injury Research and Control.

The study found that after the 2003 repeal of Pennsylvania’s motorcycle helmet law, helmet use by riders involved in reportable crashes decreased from 82 percent in 2001–2002 to 58 percent after the repeal (2004–2005).

Motorcycle-related head injury deaths increased 66 percent, whereas non-head injury deaths increased 25 percent.  In addition, motorcycle head injury hospitalizations increased 78 percent compared with 28 percent for non-head injury hospitalizations.

These data were obtained from Pennsylvania’s Departments of Health and Transportation. Researchers suggest that the repeal was most likely responsible for the relatively large increase in head injuries and that this study is significant for two main reasons.

First, it used population-based hospital discharge data compiled from all acute care hospitals in the state, whereas the majority of previous studies of post-repeal changes in motorcycle-related hospitalizations include data only from selected trauma centers.  Second, the researchers attempted to control for non-helmet factors by comparing changes in head injuries to non-head injuries.

“Data alone, however, are not sufficient to reverse helmet law repeal; many states maintain repeals despite multiple studies showing increases in deaths, injuries and costs.  Until life-saving mandatory helmet policies are reinstated, voluntary helmet use programs should be developed and evaluated,” the study’s authors recommended.

Abstract:  "To evaluate the 2003 repeal of Pennsylvania’s motorcycle helmet law, we assessed changes in helmet use and compared motorcycle-related head injuries with non-head injuries from 2001–2002 to 2004–2005.

Helmet use among riders in crashes decreased from 82% to 58%.  Head injury deaths increased 66%; non-head injury deaths increased 25%.

Motorcycle-related head injury hospitalizations increased 78% compared with 28% for non-head injury hospitalizations.  Helmet law repeals jeopardize motorcycle riders.  Until repeals are reversed, states need voluntary strategies to increase helmet use."