Citation

Mertz KJ, Weiss HB. Am. J. Public Health 2008; 98(8): 1464-1467.

Affiliation

University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2007.123299

PMID

18556613

PMCID

PMC2446440

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 nonhead injuries from 2001-2002 to 2004-2005. Helmet use among riders in crashes decreased from 82% to 58%. Head injury deaths increased 66%; nonhead injury deaths increased 25%. Motorcycle-related head injury hospitalizations increased 78% compared with 28% for nonhead injury hospitalizations. Helmet law repeals jeopardize motorcycle riders. Until repeals are reversed, states need voluntary strategies to increase helmet use.

Language: en