The effect of the Taiwan motorcycle helmet use law on head injuries

Am J Public Health. 2000 May;90(5):793-6. doi: 10.2105/ajph.90.5.793.

Abstract

Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of the motorcycle helmet law implemented in Taiwan on June 1, 1997.

Methods: Collecting data on 8795 cases of motorcycle-related head injuries from 56 major Taiwanese hospitals, we compared the situation 1 year before and after implementation of the helmet law.

Results: After implementation of the law, the number of motorcycle-related head injuries decreased by 33%, from 5260 to 3535. Decreases in length of hospital stay and in severity of injury and better outcome were also seen. The likelihood ratio chi 2 test showed that severity decreased after the law's implementation (P < .001). Full helmets were found to be safer than half-shell helmets.

Conclusion: The helmet law effectively decreased the mortality and morbidity from motorcycle-related head injuries.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Accidents, Traffic* / mortality
  • Accidents, Traffic* / prevention & control
  • Accidents, Traffic* / statistics & numerical data
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Craniocerebral Trauma* / epidemiology
  • Craniocerebral Trauma* / etiology
  • Craniocerebral Trauma* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Head Protective Devices / statistics & numerical data*
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Morbidity
  • Motorcycles / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Population Surveillance
  • Sex Distribution
  • Taiwan / epidemiology