Helmets
Because serious head injury is common among fatally injured motorcyclists, helmet use is important. Helmets are about 37 percent effective in preventing motorcyclist deaths and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries. An unhelmeted rider is 40 percent more likely to sustain a fatal head injury compared with a helmeted rider. Yet only 20 states and the District of Columbia mandate helmet use by all riders. Death rates from head injuries have been shown to be twice as high among motorcyclists in states with no helmet laws or laws that apply only to young riders, compared with states where laws apply to all riders. During the past few years several states have repealed or weakened their helmet laws. Helmet laws by state:
See website: Injury Control
www.injurycontrol.com/icrin/frameicrin.htm