MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE AND FATALITIES IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION OF THE USA

Introduction: The federal government estimates that per mile traveled in 2018, the number of deaths on motorcycles was nearly 27 times the number in cars. In the United States there is no universal helmet law. In twenty-two states, motorcycle helmets are entirely optional, while in nineteen states and the District of Columbia universal motorcycle helmets laws requiring helmets for all riders regardless of age are implemented and nine states only require younger motorcycle riders to wear a helmet, with varying age limits. Objectives: The overall objectives of this study were to evaluate the following: (1) number of fatalities (with and without helmet use), (2) fatality rate per motorcycle registration, (3) fatality percentage with age, (4) percent fatality due to alcohol impairment, and (5) location of collision impact to the rider in two southern states (Mississippi and Alabama) where helmet laws are established compared with a southern state (Florida) that only requires riders less than 20 years of age to be helmeted. Methods: Data from 2015-2018 were obtained from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Reporting System (FARS) and supplemented with state related and CDC data. Results: In all three states, the most common collision was a front-end impact. Mississippi had the highest percentage of motorcycle fatalities even with >80% of riders helmeted when the fatal accident occurred, followed by Florida motorcyclist who are only 50% of the time helmeted. In all three southern states similar percentage of fatalities were seen in each age group with higher fatalities associated with age range of 30-39 years. Conclusions: Variables such as helmet type, distance from a level 1 trauma center, poor roads, weather conditions, and visibility of the rider may also be factors that contribute to a higher incidence of fatality and need to be further investigated to improve motorcycle safety.