Citation

Kulanthayan S, Radin Umar RS, Ahmad Hariza H, Mohd Nasir MT, Harwant S. Med. J. Malaysia 2000; 55(2): 40-44.

Affiliation

Road Safety Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Malaysian Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10944900

Abstract

Motorcyclists make up the largest group of fatalities on Malaysian roads, majority succumbing to head injuries despite the compulsory safety helmet laws in the country. One possible reason for this high fatality is improper usage of safety helmets. This study examines the compliance of proper safety helmet use in motorcyclists in a typical Malaysian town. Five hundred motorcyclists were studied. Only 54.4% of motorcyclists used helmets properly, 21.4% used them improperly; and 24.2% did not wear helmets. Six variables were found to be significant in improper safety helmet use. They were age, gender, race, formal education level, prior accident experience and type of license held. Marital status and riding experience were not significant. Efforts promoting proper use of safety helmets should focus on the young, male, less formally educated, unlicensed rider, who has had a prior accident.