Abstract
Per vehicle mile traveled, motorcycle riders have a 34-fold higher risk of death in a crash than people driving other types of motor vehicles. While lower-extremity injuries most commonly occur in all motorcycle crashes, head injuries are most frequent in fatal crashes. Helmets and helmet use laws have been shown to be effective in reducing head injuries and deaths from motorcycle crashes. Alcohol is the major contributing factor to fatal crashes. Enforcement of legal limits on the blood alcohol concentration is effective in reducing motorcycle deaths, while some alcohol-related interventions such as a minimal legal drinking age, increased alcohol excise taxes, and responsible beverage service specifically for motorcycle riders have not been examined. Other modifiable protective or risk factors comprise inexperience and driver training, conspicuity and daytime headlight laws, motorcycle licensure and ownership, riding speed, and risk-taking behaviors. Features of motorcycle use and potentially effective prevention programs for motorcycle crash injuries in developing countries are discussed. Finally, recommendations for future motorcycle-injury research are made.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 710-722 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Accident Analysis and Prevention |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2009 |
Keywords
- Alcohol consumption
- Developing countries
- Head injury
- Helmet
- Motorcycle crash
- Risk factors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
- Human Factors and Ergonomics
