Folks,
I've been getting the BOLT digest instead of the individual e-mail posts, but now I have found that I am weeks behind in my post reading, which has been relaxing, but I don't know if I will ever have the time to catch up again. Every once in a while someone in the past has asked Ray for a answer to something, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute in those rare instances when I have an answer. So perhaps if you want me to participate in a post you have made to the Forum, please copy your post also to my e-mail address
Just in looking through one old digest today I noticed the post below in which this new study suggests that data accumulated following the repeal of a helmet law suggests that there has been both a rise in head injuries and a rise in non-head injuries among motorcyclists following the repeal. I will put in BOLD the portions of the text referred to below. Those are the author's conclusions, but I would suggest that what the data really show is that the study methodology is defective. Since there can be no possible connection between wearing a helmet and a reduction in the incidence not-head injuries, rather obviously what the study has found is that there is a variable independent of the helmet law repeal that is causing the rise in incidence of both head injuries and non-head injuries.
As usual, the investigators appear willing to hold to the NHTSA company line despite that they must know that their results cannot possibly support their conclusions. Indeed, they should be embarrassed, given that the absurdity of their conclusions and the failure of their methodology is patent to any discerning eye.
Ray
Ray`s Respone to Comments
2. (no subject)
Posted by: "Mac Date: Thu May 20, 2010 8:26 pm ((PDT))
The below is popping up on discussion lists as to why helmets are important
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms...fs-pub7206.pdf
Pennsylvania motorcycle accident injuries and deaths soared after repeal of
helmet law
July 25th, 2008 by Eric Saiontz |
New research demonstrates the importance of helmet laws in reducing the risk
of injury and death in a motorcycle accident. In 2003, the Pennsylvania
Motorcycle Helmet law was repealed, allowing motorcyclists to ride with no
protective headgear. However, a study published in the current issue of the
American Journal of Public Health documents the immediate increase in
Pennsylvania motorcycle injuries following the repeal.
>>INFORMATION:
Injuries
Researchers compared data for Pennsylvania motorcycle accidents during the
two years before the helmet law was repealed (2001-2002) against data from
the two years after (2004-2005). After riders were no longer required by law
to wear a motorcycle helmet, researchers found that the number who wore
helmets fell from 82% in 2001-2002 to 58% in 2004-2005. Although the rate of
motorcycle crashes per 10,000 registered vehicles remained the same, the
percentage of motorcycle crashes resulting in death or hospitalization
increased substantially, for both head injury and other injuries.
Pennsylvania data for motorcycle head injury deaths showed an increase of 66% and head injury hospitalizations increased by 78% in 2004-2005 when compared with statistics from 2001-2002. For motorcycle injuries to parts of the body other than the head, researchers still found an increase of 25% for deaths and an increase of 28% for hospitalizations.
Acute-care hospital charges associated with motorcycle-related head injuries
have more than doubled in Pennsylvania since the helmet law was repealed in
2003. The total costs soared from $53.5 million in 2001 and 2002 to $124.2
million for the years 2004 and 2005.
"Helmet law repeals jeopardize motorcycle riders," researchers concluded.
"Until repeals are reversed, states need voluntary strategies to increase
helmet use."
In 1975, the federal government stopped requiring states to impose helmet
laws to receive federal highway money. Currently only 20 states and
Washington D.C. require motorcyclists to wear helmets, despite the National
Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates that the use of
helmets saved the lives of nearly 700 motorcyclists in 2002, and reduced the
risk of fatality by 29%.
