Evaluation of the costs and benefits of motorcycle helmet laws
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11033973 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Andréas Müller (0000-0003-1375-6459, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1980 |
| Volume | 70 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 586-592 |
| Publication date | 1980-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | American Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048 |
| Publisher | American Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.2105/ajph.70.6.586 |
| PMID | 6769347 |
| OpenAlex | W2129157755 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 9 |
| References cited | 4 |
Since 1976, 28 states have repealed or significantly amended their motorcycle helmet laws. The change in legislation was not based on an evaluation of the costs and benefits of such laws. This paper attempts such an assessment by comparing the cost of motorcycle helmets with the medical costs averted due to helmet use using data primarily based on motorcycle crashes in Colorado, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. Nationwide, at least $61 million could be saved annually if all motorcyclists were to use helmets. Helmet law repeals have been observed to lead to a 40 to 50 per cent point reduction in helmet use. The associated additional medical care costs substantially exceed cost savings produced by reduced helmet use. It is estimated that helmet law repeals may produce annually between $16 and 18 million of unnecessary medical care expenditures. Several alternatives to increase motorcycle helmet use are briefly discussed. It is concluded that helmet laws are effective in encouraging helmet use among motorcyclists and will prevent unnecessary medical expenditures as well as unnecessary pain and suffering among injured motorcyclists
Business · Cost–benefit analysis · Environmental health · Health care · Injury prevention · Legislation · Medical care · Medical costs · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Political science · Suicide prevention · Agriculture and Farm Safety · Emergency Medicine · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Injury Epidemiology and Prevention · Law · Medicine · Traffic and Road Safety
Cost-Benefit Analysis
The Impact of the Texas 1989 Motorcycle Helmet Law on Total and Head-Related Fatalities, Severe Injuries, and Overall Injuries
On newborn sickle cell screening in NYC
On the cost of repealing motorcycle helmet laws
Dr. Horn's Response
Illness severity, death, and hospital cost comparisons
Save that child
On lobbies, liberty, and the public good
Does the doctor understand what I am asking
| Unique citing works | 9 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,2 |
| Citation span | 1980 - 1992 (13) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 7 |