The truth is that when we modified the helmet law here in PA, fatalities went on the decline. And have done so for every year since.
NO one knows why for sure, but the thinking among us riders is that when going lid free, you slow down, put your radar antenna up, and drive more carefully.
I know, I’ve experienced the feeling myself.
But the one fact is, helmet’s efficacy has found to top out around 16mph. After that, the incidence of neck trauma starts to climb significantly. Over 40 mph, its a crap shoot. Over 50 or 60, it really doesn’t matter.
Saw an accident, guy got hit head on by a drunk. Tore him mostly in half. The headline? Biker Dies in Crash, He Was Not Wearing a Helmet!
Some things never change.
Excellent post! I must compliment PA bikers as some of the most resolute in the nation.
A year ago I was in PA taking care of my mother who was dying of cancer. I saw bikers on the road every day, and I’m not just talking about the nice days. November in Western PA can be nasty, and was last year. I saw guys on the road every day regardless.
hmmm. Are you sure?
June 12, 2008 -- Head injuries from motorcycle crashes rose after the repeal of motorcycle helmet laws in Pennsylvania, a study shows.
The study's researchers found a 66% increase in motorcycle-related head injury deaths and a 78% increase in head injury hospitalizations from motorcycle crashes since the repeal of Pennsylvania’s motorcycle helmet law in 2003.
"Our study shows that since the repeal of Pennsylvania's motorcycle helmet law, helmet use has gone down, while head injuries from motorcycle crashes have gone up, even after increased motorcycle registration," researcher Kristen Mertz, MD, MPH, assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, says in a news release. "The relatively large increase in head injury deaths and hospitalizations after the repeal suggests that the law was protecting riders."
Researchers say the findings strengthen the argument for more comprehensive helmet laws to help protect motorcycle riders. Motorcycle helmet laws have weakened across the U.S. since 1975, when the federal government stopped withholding highway money from states without universal motorcycle helmet laws. Only 20 states have laws that require all riders to wear helmets.
Head Injury Risks Rise Without Helmets In the study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, researchers compared motorcycle-related head injuries in Pennsylvania when motorcycle helmet laws were still in effect from 2001-2002 and after the repeal in 2004-2005.
They found helmet use decreased among motorcycle riders involved in reported crashes from 82% to 58% after the repeal of the motorcycle helmet laws. During the same time period, head injury deaths from motorcycle crashes increased 66%.
Motorcycle-related head injury hospitalizations also increased 78% after the law was repealed, and the number of motorcyclists with head injuries requiring further treatment at rehabilitation facilities and long-term care centers increased 87% after the repeal.
In comparison, non-head injury-related deaths and hospitalizations that were motorcycle-related rose by much smaller margins, 25% and 28% respectively.
Finally, researchers found total hospital charges arising from treating motorcycle crash-related head injuries increased 132% in the two years following the repeal of the motorcycle helmet law, compared with a rise of 69% for non-head injuries.
www.webmd.com
You stepped into that one big time:
Statewide, the number of motorcycle deaths was:
156 in 2003,
158 in 2004,
205 in 2005,
187 in 2006,
225 in 2007,
237 in 2008 and
207 in 2009,
according to PennDOT.
Interesting that you quote an economist's opinion on the safety benefits of helmets. But you did a very bad job of quoting. It was 13 mph, not 16. Also, please cite where the good professor said that neck trauma 'climbs significantly'. Thank you.
Please cite your source for this 'fact'. Thank you.
Most accident helmet impact speeds are less than 16 mph. Helmets save lives.