MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE AND INJURY OUTCOME AND HOSPITALIZATION COSTS FROM CRASHES IN WASHINGTON-STATE

Objectives. The incidence, type, severity, and costs of crash related injuries requiring hospitalization or resulting in death were compared for helmeted and unhelmeted motorcyclists. Methods. This was a retros pective cohort study of injured motorcyclists in Washington State in 1 989. Motorcycle crash data were linked to statewide hospitalization an d death data. Results. The 2090 crashes included in this study resulte d in 409 hospitalizations (20%) and 59 fatalities (2.8%). Although unh elmeted motorcyclists were only slightly more likely to be hospitalize d overall, they were more severely injured, nearly three times more li kely to have been head injured, and nearly four times more likely to h ave been severely or critically head injured than helmeted riders. Unh elmeted riders were also more likely to be readmitted to a hospital fo r follow-up treatment and to die from their injuries. The average hosp ital stay for unhelmeted motorcyclists was longer and cost more per ca se; the cost of hospitalization for unhelmeted motorcyclists was 60% m ore overall ($3.5 vs $2.2 million). Conclusions. Helmet use is strongl y associated with reduced probability and severity of injury, reduced economic impact, and a reduction in motorcyclist deaths.