@article{ref1,
title="Exploring the economics of motorcycle helmet laws--implications for low and middle-income countries",
journal="Asia-Pacific journal of public health",
year="2007",
author="Hyder, Adnan Ali and Waters, H. and Phillips, Tom and Rehwinkel, J.",
volume="19",
number="2",
pages="16-22",
abstract="This paper reviews economic evaluations of motorcycle helmet interventions in preventing injuries. A comprehensive literature review focusing on the effectiveness of motorcycle helmet use, and on mandatory helmet laws and their enforcement was done. When helmet laws were lifted between 1976-80, 48 states within the U.S.A. experienced a cost of $342,047 per excess fatality of annual net savings. Helmet laws in the USA had a benefit-cost ratio of 1.33 to 5.07. Taiwan witnessed a 14% decline in motorcycle fatalities and a 22% reduction of head injury fatalities with the introduction of a helmet law. In Thailand, where 70-90% of all crashes involve motorcycle, after enforcement of a helmet law, helmet-use increased five-fold, the number of injured motorcyclists decreased by 33.5%, head injuries decreased by 41.4%, and deaths decreased by 20.8%. There is considerable evidence that mandatory helmet laws with enforcement alleviate the burden of traffic injuries greatly. For low and middle-income countries with high rates of motorcycle injuries, enforced, mandatory motorcycle helmet laws are potentially one of the most cost-effective interventions available.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1010-5395",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}