MOTORCYCLE HELMET EFFECTIVENESS IN LOUISIANA

Effective 1 October 1976, Louisiana's motorcycle helmet law was revised to exclude riders over 17 years of age; the original law (1968) applied to all motorcyclists. The first two years' experience under the revised law was examined to determine if the change had a significant effect on motorcyclist deaths and injuries. Motorcycle registrations increased 127% between 1968 and 1976; motorcycle accidents increased 34% between 1973 and 1978; and fatalities increased 133% between 1975 and 1978. Motorcycle helmet use decreased almost 50% in all accidents, and about 75% among fatalities, in the first two years after the law change. Only 22% of all fatalities wore helmets in 1978, and only 8% of those fatalities under 18 years of age were helmeted (a group supposedly protected by the law). There was a 45% increase in the motorcycle fatality rate in the two years. Severe head injuries were reported in about 65% of fatalities before and after the law was changed, but the fatal head injury rate was 10.5 per 1000 crash-involved riders before and 15.2 after the law change. In 1978, this rate was 8.8 per 1000 helmeted riders but 28.2 for nonhelmeted riders.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Conference held in Washington, D.C., 18-23 May 1980. Also published in HS-029 702, International Motorcycle Safety Conference Proceedings. Volume 3, p 1311-21.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Motorcycle Safety Foundation

    780 Elkridge Landing Road
    Linthicum, MD  United States  21090
  • Authors:
    • Dart Jr, O K
  • Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: 11 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00390520
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 718
  • Files: HSL, USDOT
  • Created Date: Nov 30 1984 12:00AM