THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HELMETS IN REDUCING ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE INJURIES AND DEATHS

This article examines the effectiveness of helmets in reducing all-terrain vehicle (ATV) related deaths and head injuries, conditional on the occurrence of injury producing accidents. A logit regression model is used to analyze cross-section data on ATV-related fatal and nonfatal injuries and to determine the factors that are associated with deaths and head injuries. The results suggest that, given an accident resulting in injury or death, helmet use reduces the risk of death by about 42 percent, and could reduce the likelihood that a given nonfatal injury involves the head by about 64 percent. Other factors that are associated with the risk of fatality for injury accidents include the use of alcohol or drugs, driving on paved roads, the driver's age and sex, and the vehicle's engine size. A benefit-cost analysis of helmet use is conducted and policy implications are discussed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Headington Hill Hall
  Oxford OX30BW,    
• Authors:
  • Rodgers, G B
• Publication Date: 1990-1

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 47-58
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: All terrain vehicles; Benefit cost analysis; Fatalities; Head; Helmets; Injuries; Logits; Regression analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Head injuries
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00492292
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-040 682
• Files: HSL, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM