HEAD AND FACIAL INJURIES AFTER LOW-SPEED MOTOR-CYCLE ACCIDENTS

In the United Kingdom there appears to be little available information concerning the prevalence and the patterns of head and of facial injuries sustained in road traffic accidents by motorcyclists wearing protective helmets. The present preliminary survey was of 56 accidents in urban traffic. 50 per cent of surviving motor-cyclists incurred head injuries. Soft tissue facial wounds were sustained by 38 per cent and fractures of facial bones and teeth by 11 per cent of the injured. The majority of the accidents occurred at speeds of 30 m.p.h. or less to riders of machines of small cubic capacity. Motor-cyclists wearing open-face style helmets had more facial damage after accidents than those wearing full-face style helmets. The results of the survey suggest the need for research into the degree of protection against head facial injuries offered by the various helmet styles and their constituent materials.

• Corporate Authors:

  Churchill Livingstone

  Journals Division, Fourth Avenue
  Harlow, Essex,   England 
• Authors:
  • Cannell, H
  • King, J B
  • Winch, R D
• Publication Date: 1982-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 183-191
• Serial:
  • British Journal of Oral Surgery
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Churchill Livingstone

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash victims; Crashes; Face; Head; Helmets; Injuries; Injury severity; Motorcyclists; Protection; Protective clothing; Safety equipment; Traffic speed
• Identifier Terms: Abbreviated Injury Scale; Injury Severity Score
• Uncontrolled Terms: Head injuries; Low speed; Protective equipment
• Old TRIS Terms: Protective masks
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00385123
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-035 757
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 30 1984 12:00AM