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Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
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Exploring the Economics of Motorcycle Helmet Laws — Implications for Low and Middle-Income Countries

A.A. Hyder, MD, PhD

Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, Center for Injury Research & Policy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, ahyder{at}jhsph.edu

H. Waters, MS, PhD

Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA

T. Phillips, MPH

Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA

J. Rehwinkel, MPH

Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA

This paper reviews economic evaluations of motorcycle helmet interventions in preventing injuries. A comprehensive literature review focusing on the e fectiveness of motorcycle helmet use, and on mandatory helmet laws and their enforcement was done. When helmet laws were lifted between 1976-80, 48 states within the USA experienced a cost of $342,047 per excess fatality of annual net savings. Helmet laws in the USA had a benefit-cost ratio of 1.33 to 5.07. Taiwan witnessed a 14% decline in motorcycle fatalities and a 22% reduction of head injury fatalities with the introduction of a helmet law. In Thailand, where 70-90% of all crashes involve motorcycle, after enforcement of a helmet law, helmet-use increased five-fold, the number of injured motorcyclists decreased by 33.5%, head injuries decreased by 41.4%, and deaths decreased by 20.8%. There is considerable evidence that mandatory helmet laws with enforcement alleviate the burden of tra fic injuries greatly. For low and middle-income countries with high rates of motorcycle injuries, enforced, mandatory motorcycle helmet laws are potentially one of the most cost-e fective interventions available. Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(2): 16—22.

Key Words: Economic evaluation • cost-benefit analysis • road tra fic injuries • motorcycle helmet laws.

Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, Vol. 19, No. 2, 16-22 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/10105395070190020401
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