Effectiveness of different types of motorcycle helmets and effects of their improper use on head injuries

Abstract

Of the three helmet types, half-coverage helmets provided motorcyclists the least protection from head injuries. Furthermore, wearing a loosely fastened helmet may compromise any potential protection.

Helmet Use Among Motorcyclists in Cambodia: A Survey of Use, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices

“…First, we were not able to document the type or quality of helmet used or whether the helmet was being worn properly. Helmet type and proper use have been shown to be associated with head injury risk (Peek-Asa et al 1999;Yu et al 2011). Second, data collected during the roadside interviews may have been biased because individuals who agreed to be interviewed may have been more likely to be health conscious and report wearing helmets.…”

“…A 2008 Cochrane review indicated that helmets reduced the risk of head injury by 69 percent and death by 42 percent (Liu et al 2008). Another study conducted in Taiwan concluded that, compared with helmeted motorcyclists, nonhelmeted motorcyclists were more than 4 times as likely to have head injuries and 10 times as likely to have brain injuries (Yu et al 2011). Helmet use has also shown to reduce the mean cost of hospitalization by more than $6000 per patient, according to a study conducted in a trauma center in Michigan (Brandt et al 2002).…”

Craniocerebral trauma in motorcyclists: relation of helmet use and trauma severity

“…In another study conducted in Taiwan, (18) motorcyclists without helmets were more than four times more likely to suffer head injuries, and ten times more prone to brain damage.…”

Análisis de los accidentes y las lesiones de los motociclistas en México

“…Por su parte, se puede inferir que las diferentes proporciones y cantidades atípicas, tanto de motocicletas como de accidentes, en las diferentes regiones del país, son consecuencia de las disparidades en el grado de industrialización, el nivel poblacional, la tasa de motorización y el rápido crecimiento de los moto-taxis como modo de transporte 11 . Respecto a la parte del cuerpo lesionada, al igual que en otras partes del mundo [12][13][14][15] , la cabeza es la más importante; incluso las lesiones catalogadas como heridas múltiples están compuestas en gran medida por lesiones en la cabeza y traumatismos intracraneales. A pesar de los esfuerzos legislativos por normar el uso del casco, la cultura del mexicano es un fuerte componente en las lesiones.…”