Unbiased evidence says wearing helmets makes motorcycle riding safer

Recently, a Sun Journal editorial supported the use of helmets for motorcycle riders (“Raising helmet age for motorcycles is riding safe,” April 26). The editorial cited a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study comparing safety 30 months before, and after, Florida’s 2000 repeal of its motorcycle helmet law for riders over 21.

In a subsequent letter, Ric Dodge of United Bikers of Maine offered figures to prove its safer to ride a motorcycle without a helmet. Dodge wrote, “Motorcycle registrations have risen in Florida by 100 percent since it removed its helmet law – which explains the rise in head injuries.”

I viewed this information with a great deal of skepticism and looked at the NHTSA report. I found, for openers, Dodge cited statistics not from NHTSA, but from www.abateflorida.com. NHTSA’s report says groups like ABATE (A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments; now more commonly, American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) formed to lobby against helmet laws.

Most important, though, was NHTSA’s study controlled for increases in motorcycle registration.

Florida motorcycle registrations increased 33.7 percent in the 30 months following the law’s repeal. There were 181 motorcycle fatalities in the 30 months before the repeal; the report said expected fatalities from this increase was 242. The actual number was 301 in 2002, 59 more than anticipated from the additional registrations.

Motorcycle fatalities in Florida also continued to increase, with 933 deaths in the three years after the repeal, an 81 percent increase over the 515 deaths in 1997-1999. The national increase, according to the study, was 48 percent during the same period.

Florida fatalities, per 10,000 registered motorcycles, also increased 21 percent – compared to 13 percent nationwide – in the two years after the repeal. An annual average of 181 motorcyclists were killed in Florida in the 30 months before the repeal, and an annual average of 280 in the 30 months after; a 55 percent increase.

Fatality rates for non-helmeted riders rose to 6.1 per 10,000 registered motorcycles in 2000 (up from 0.7 in 1998); non-helmeted riders were 9 percent of deaths in 1998, but 66 percent in 2002.

And how does Florida stack up against the entire country?

With 575 deaths in the two years after the repeal, Florida’s deaths increased 71 percent over the 337 that occurred in 1998-1999. In comparison, the nation rose 37 percent.

We live in Maine, however, so maybe it’s safer to ride here without a helmet? Nope.

NHTSA’s Florida report looked at a report from Maine, which studied data from 806 motorcyclist crashes in 1995-1996, which showed “riders not wearing helmets were found to be three times more likely to have head injuries requiring EMS transport, hospitalization, or resulting in death than motorcyclists who were helmeted.”

If non-helmeted riders don’t care about their heads, they should care about the increased medical costs the rest of us incur because of them. NHTSA’s report found injured non-helmeted riders were charged, on average, an additional $12,000 for medical care.

“Comparing the 30-month period just before and after the helmet law change, total gross costs charged to acute care hospital admitted motorcyclists with a principal diagnosis of head/brain/skull injury more than doubled from $21 million to $50 million,” the report stated.

“Let the rider decide” sounds like a catchy slogan, until understanding the decision could cost the rest of us increased medical expenses.

In this important issue, only unbaised studies – with valid and reliable research methodology – should be used dispute a source like the NHTSA report, not material from an advocacy group like ABATE.

I look forward to reading an unbaised response.

But so far, the evidence proves it’s safer to ride using an approved helmet than not using one.

James Witherell lives in Lewiston. The NHTSA report, “Evaluation of the Repeal of the All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law in Florida,” is available at www.nhtsa.dot.gov (report number DOT HS 809 849).