Evaluation of the Repeal of Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Kentucky and Louisiana

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Evaluation of the Repeal of Motorcycle Helmet
Lawsin Kentucky and Louisiana

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Linda A. Cosgrove, Ph.D.Research Technology

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Authors

• Robert Ulmer and David Preusser
• Preusser Research Group

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Objective
In 1998 Kentucky and in 1999 Louisiana
repealed their universal motorcycle helmet laws

• Determine the effects of the helmet law changes
  on
  
• Observed helmet use
• Motorcyclist fatalities and injuries

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Background History of Motorcycle Helmet Laws

• 1966-1975 Federal Requirement
• 1976-1980 Sanctions Eliminated
• 1981-1988 Stability
• 1989-1994 Federal Penalties
• 1995-2004 Penalties eliminated

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1966-1975 Federal Requirement

• Prior to 1966 no universal helmet laws
• Highway Safety Act of 1966
• Required universal helmet laws
• Loss of construction funds
• By 1975 47 States and DC adopted universal
  helmet laws
  
• Considerable controversy

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1976-1980 Sanctions Eliminated

• 1975 Congress repealed the universal helmet
  requirement and penalties
  
• 28 States repealed their universal helmet laws
• 1980 19 States and DC with universal helmet laws

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1981-1988 Period of Stability

• Little change
• 1982 Louisiana re-enacted a
• universal helmet law
• 1983 Wyoming repealed its law

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1989-1994 Sanctions Re-enacted

• Gradual re-enactment of universal helmet laws
• 1990 GAO Study
• 1991 ISTEA passed
• Incentive grants
• Transfer program effective in 1995

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1995-2004Transfer Eliminated

• 1995 National Highway Designation Act repealed
  the ISTEA transfer provision
  
• Efforts to amend or repeal helmet laws grew
• 6 States repealed their universal helmet laws
• 2004
• 19 States and DC have universal helmet laws
• 28 States have laws applying to only some riders
• 3 States have no laws

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Number of States with Universal Helmet Use Laws
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Helmet Law Status 2004
Highlighted States have Universal Helmet Laws
12
California Motorcyclists Killed 1987 2000
(Source FARS)
13
Maryland Motorcyclist Killed 1987 2000 (Source
FARS)
14
Texas Motorcyclists Killed 1994 2000 (Source
FARS)
15
U.S. Motorcycle Registrations and Miles of
Travel, 1975-2002 (Source FHWA)
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U.S. Motorcyclists Killed, 1975-2002 (Source
FARS)
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Motorcyclists Fatality Rate, 1975-2002 (Source
FARS, FHWA)
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Percent of Registered Motorcycles Not Covered By
a Universal Helmet Law (Source NHTSA, FHWA)
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Percent of Registered Motorcycles Covered By a
Universal Helmet Law (Source NHTSA, FHWA)
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Percent of Motorcyclists Killed by Month (Source
FARS)
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Motorcycle Registrations in States With and
Without Universal Helmet Laws1980-2002
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Observed Helmet Use in Kentucky
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MC Fatal Crashes and Fatalities in Kentucky
1996-2002(Source FARS)
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MC Riders Killed in Kentucky
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MC Injury Crashes and Injuries in Kentucky
1996-2000(Source FARS)
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Kentucky Motorcycle Registrations and Crash Rates
1996-2000
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Rate of MC Riders Killed in Kentucky (per 10,000
Registered)
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Observed Helmet Use in Louisiana
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MC Fatal Crashes and Fatalities in Louisiana
1997-2002(Source FARS)
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MC Riders Killed in Louisiana
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MC Injury Crashes and Injuries in Louisiana
1997-2000
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Louisiana Motorcycle Registrations and Crash
Rates 1997-2000
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MC Riders Killed in Louisiana (per 10,000
Registered)
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Summary

• Observed helmet use dropped
• (from near 100 to 50)

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Summary

• Motorcyclist fatalities increased
• Over 50 in Kentucky
• Over 100 in Louisiana
• Fatality rates increased
• Over 37 in Kentucky
• Over 75 in Louisiana
• (18 nationally)

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Summary

• Motorcycle injuries increased
• Over 33 in Kentucky
• Over 40 in Louisiana
• Motorcycle injury rates increased
• Over 17 in Kentucky
• Over 20 in Louisiana
• (Decreased 2.9 nationally)

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Conclusion

• Repeal of mandatory helmet use laws in Kentucky
  and Louisiana resulted in
  
• Decreased helmet use
• Increased fatalities and injuries

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Limitations

• During this time period
• The number of registered motorcycles increased by
  20 (nationally)
  
• Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increased 6
  (nationally)
  
• National data suggest registrations are higher in
  States without mandatory helmet laws
  
• Repealing mandatory helmet laws appears to result
  in more registrations

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Limitations

• National data suggest a trend towards larger
  bikes and older riders
  
• Thus, the increase in registrations experienced
  by Kentucky and Louisiana after repeal of their
  helmet laws may have also resulted in an increase
  in older/less experienced riders on larger bikes
  who are at greater risk of crash involvement

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Limitations

• Insufficient data to determine the extent to
  which the increase in fatality and injury rates
  were due to
  
• Reduced helmet use
• Increased exposure
• Increased riding by riders at higher risk of
  crash involvement

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For More Information

• www.nhtsa.dot.gov