A Comparison of Motorcycle Accident and Fatality Rates between Mandatory Hetmet Law States and Voluntary Helmet Use States

Summary:
The data used for this comparison was obtained from the 1994 Motorcycle Statistical Annual, Motorcycle Industry Council, Inc., 1994. The state motorcycle accident statistics were divided between states with a mandatory helmet law and those without. This data is found in tables 3 and 4.

The only variable used in this comparison is a mandatory helmet law. The results show that accident and fatality rates are higher overall in states with mandatory helmet laws. The total number of accidents and fatalities are also higher in these same states (Table 1).

Mandatory helmet law states account for sixty-one percent (61%) of total motorcycle registrations. They account for sixty-four percent (64%) of the accidents and sixtv-five percent (65%) of the fatalities (Table 2).

















Study supplied by Tony "Pan" Sanfelipo

Authored by: Steven Shmerler | shmerls@earthlink.net

Last updated: February 25, 1996