Summary

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO evaluated studies on the motorcycle helmet laws, focusing on the: (1) effectiveness of helmets in preventing fatalities and serious injuries; (2) impact of helmet laws on helmet usage and fatality rates; and (3) societal costs of helmet nonuse.

GAO found that: (1) 11 of 46 studies comparing helmeted with nonhelmeted accident victims found that helmeted riders had lower fatality rates; (2) surviving helmeted riders suffered 46 to 85 percent fewer incidences of severe, serious, and critical head injuries than nonhelmeted riders; (3) 9 studies indicated that helmet use under universal laws ranged from 92 to 100 percent, while unlegislated helmet use generally ranged from 42 to 59 percent; (4) 20 studies comparing motorcycle fatality rates under universal helmet laws found that fatality rates were 20 to 40 percent lower when universal helmet laws were in effect; (5) the decreases in fatality rates when laws were enacted were matched by comparable increases when the laws were repealed; (6) studies indicated that nonhelmeted riders were more extensive users of medical services and long-term care, and were more likely to die or lose earning capacity through disability; (7) data on the cost of medical services rendered to motorcycle accident victims were unclear, but studies showed that society pays for much of the care for accident victims through tax-supported programs or insurance premiums; and (8) studies on long-term accident costs indicated that costs could approach $100,000 for persons with serious head injuries and $300,000 for critical head injuries.