IMPACT OF MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW REPEAL IN SOUTH DAKOTA 1976-79

The present report in two volumes assesses changes in levels of helmet use, state-wide accident experience, and incidence of cyclist injury between a pre-repeal period and two post-repeal years. Results of three state-wide surveys, each of which included observations of over 12,000 cyclists, showed helmet use to decline from nearly 100% in the pre-repeal period to 57% in 1977 and 48% in 1978. Data from 1,515 motorcycle accidents occurring between July 1976 and June 1979 were examined to assess the influence of helmet law repeal on incidence and severity of victim injuries. Accident cost data were also obtained for a random sample of 136 motorcycle drivers involved in these accidents. Helmet use was clearly related to the severity of victims' injuries and to the incidence of head trauma.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of South Dakota, Vermillion

  Human Factors Laboratory
  Vermillion, SD  United States  57069

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Struckman-Johnson, C
  • Ellingstad, V S
• Publication Date: 1980-6

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 128 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adults; Crash investigation; Crash severity; Head; Helmets; Impact studies; Injuries; Law enforcement; Legislation; Motorcycles; Motorcyclists; State government; Surveys; Traffic regulations; Traffic safety; Utilization
• Uncontrolled Terms: Traffic laws
• Geographic Terms: South Dakota
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00328901
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: HFL-80-1 Final Rpt., HS-805 619
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-9-02130
• Files: HSL, NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 21 1983 12:00AM