Helmet Use in Connecticut Motorcycle Crashes: A State without a Universal Helmet Law

This article reports on a study undertaken to assess the association of helmet use with motorcycle crash mortality as well as to identify characteristics of riders who do not wear helmets in Connecticut crashes. The authors analyzed police crash data for Connecticut motorcycle crashes in the years 2001-2007 on factors including age, gender, seating position, road type, season, time of day, and recklessness. The study included 9,214 crashes with helmet use data available. The authors found that helmets were worn in 4,072 of these crashes (44.2%). Non-helmeted adult riders (age 18 or older), riding interstate or state roads, in the evening or at night, and who were riding recklessly were associated with higher odds of fatality. Predictors of nonhelmet use included male gender, being a passenger, certain age groups, and riding in the summer, evening or at night, and on U.S., state, and local roads. The authors conclude that these crash data confirm that helmets reduce fatal crashes in Connecticut. They recommend targeting safety training approaches to the factors that help predict non-use of helmets.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00106178
• Authors:
  • Landman, Adam B
  • Phipps, Michael S
  • Jawin, Kimberly
  • Bolton, Lauri
  • Van Gelder, Carin M
  • Kamin, Richard
  • Teel, Bill
  • Vaca, Federico E
• Publication Date: 2011-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 261-268
• Serial:
  • Connecticut Medicine
  • Volume: 75
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Connecticut State Medical Society
  • ISSN: 0010-6178

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age groups; Crash injuries; Demographics; Fatalities; Gender; High risk drivers; Injury severity; Motorcycle helmets; Motorcyclists; Passengers; Periods of the day; Reckless drivers
• Geographic Terms: Connecticut
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01357124
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 16 2011 2:52PM