Citation

Auman KM, Kufera JA, Ballesteros MF, Smialek JE, Dischinger PC. Am. J. Public Health 2002; 92(8): 1352-1355.

Affiliation

Charles McC. Mathias Jr National Study Center for Trauma and Emergency Medical Services, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Kauman@som.umaryland.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12144996

PMCID

PMC1447242

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the impact of Maryland's all-rider motorcycle helmet law (enacted on October 1, 1992) on preventing deaths and traumatic brain injuries among motorcyclists. METHODS: Statewide motorcyclist fatalities occurring during seasonally comparable 33-month periods immediately preceding and following enactment of the law were compared. RESULTS: The motorcyclist fatality rate dropped from 10.3 per 10,000 registered motorcycles prelaw to 4.5 postlaw despite almost identical numbers of registered motorcycles. Motorcyclists wearing helmets had a lower risk of traumatic brain injury than those not wearing helmets (odds ratio = 0.31, 95% confidence interval = 0.14, 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: Maryland's controversial motorcycle helmet law appears to be an effective public health policy and may be responsible for saving many lives.