Chapter 1

Introduction

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, in 2008, 5,290 motorcyclists died and 96,000 were
injured. Motorcycles make up ∼3% of all registered vehicles in the United States and account for only 0.4% of all
vehicle miles traveled. However, motorcycle crashes accounted for ∼10% of all motor vehicle crash fatalities, and
per mile traveled, motor cycle crashes are ∼37 times more lethal than automobile crashes.

Head injuries are one of the most common injuries after motorcycle crashes and were estimated to be the cause of
death in >50% of these fatalities. In close to a third of these victims, the head injury is the sole organ system that is
injured. However, in the majority of patients, estimated as high as 90% of some patient cohorts, a head injury is
present along with other injuries. Despite these facts, it is estimated that only 50% of motorcyclists routinely wear
helmets.

It was intuitive even to our earliest ancestors that a hard shell would protect the head from injury. However,
establishing the effectiveness of the motorcycle helmet remains a challenging effort especially in light of the
powerful opposition to universal helmet laws. Furthermore, quantifying the protective effect of helmets supports
the promotion of helmet programs regardless of the controversial nature of legislative efforts.

In the United States, an increasing recognition that helmet use is associated with reductions in fatalities without
apparent harm increased the implementation of universal helmet laws. In response to the 1966 Federal Highway
Act, which withheld federal funds from states that did not enact a helmet law, Georgia became the first state to
enact a mandatory universal motorcycle helmet law in 1967. By 1975, 47 of the 50 states had universal helmet
laws.

However, public and political concerns over individual rights versus public safety opened a new debate. In the
following years, political changes reversed and/or limited previous sanctions and grants that encouraged states to
enact universal helmet laws, which further eroded support forhelmet laws. An increasing number of states either
repealed their mandatory laws altogether or significantly reduced the laws to apply only to minors. At present,
only 20 states have universal helmet laws, another 26 states require only partial coverage, and 4 states have no
helmet laws (Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire).

A large volume of literature has quantified the consequences of not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle.
Although motorcycle riding and registration are increasing and more states with universal helmet laws are
introducing bills to repeal their laws, the debate continues on the personal advantages of helmet usage. Therefore,
we have reviewed the literature and summarize the evidence basis for the use of motorcycle helmets. In particular,
we have sought to assess the impact of helmet use on overall mortality, head injury-related mortality, nonlethal
head injury after a motorcycle crash, and the impact universal helmet laws on helmet use.

http://www.yugatech.com/automotive/solon-wants-to-suspend-helmet-law-to-fight-crimes/

Road traffic injuries are a major public health problem and a leading cause of death around the world. In Lao PDR,
motorcycles are a common and integral means of transportation, making up 81 % of the total vehicle population .
As a result of the rapid growth in motorcycle use, there are increases in fatalities and injuries, particularly head
injuries, among motorcyclists. Motorcyclists make up approximately 84 % of the total injured road users and 74 %
of road traffic deaths in Lao PDR. Across Southeast Asia, mortality from road traffic injuries is estimated to be 7.4
deaths per 100,000 children.

Injuries to the head and neck are the main cause of severe injury, disability or death among motorcyclists involved
in road accidents; approximately 88 % of motorcycle crash fatalities are due to head trauma .Proper usage of
motorcycle helmets is the single most effective way of preventing head injuries resulting from motorcycle
accidents. On motorcycles, helmets decrease the risk and severity of injuries by 72 %, decrease the likelihood of
death by up to 39 % and reduce the medical costs of injured riders and length of hospital stay.
Lao law allows a maximum of three riders per motorcycle and states that helmets are mandatory for all motorcycle
riders, with a fine of 30,000 kip (about USD $4) for not wearing a “standard helmet while driving a motorcycle”
However, even with national legislation, the highest officially recorded helmet-wearing rate in the country’s capital
of Vientiane was 76 % in 2008, though recorded rates have also ranged from 30 to 70 % Regional data on child
helmet use rate presents a grimmer picture. In neighboring Vietnam, child helmet use rates were half the helmet
use rates of adults No prior helmet studies have been conducted in LuangPrabang, Lao PDR, which has experienced
a rapid increase in motorization in recent years.

This project aimed to measure the prevalence of motorcycle helmet use among riders (i.e., drivers and passengers)
in the city of LuangPrabang, Lao PDR. Of particular interest was information about child helmet practices as it is
common in Southeast Asia for motorcycles to serve as families’ primary mode of transportation. A second
objective of the current study was to conduct post-observation surveys of non-helmet wearing riders to identify
reasons for nonhelmet use. The study was conducted by healthcare professionals at the Lao Friends Hospital for
Children (LFHC), a new pediatric medical center in LuangPrabang that was built in partnership with the Lao PDR
Ministry of Health. It was anticipated that results would help inform broadbased public health interventions that
target efforts at greater awareness and behavior change among families seeking primary care services in the area.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4584470/

The municipality of Bantay in Ilocos Sur is rampant in vehicular accidents, and is a wellknown road for traveling.
They implemented the Motorcycle Act of 2009 or the R.A 10054 to lessen the graveness of fatality to a victim when
there’s an accident. Specially, that there areyoung’s drivers that travelling and we can’t ensure their safety in
travelling, so the authorities have taken their action to this matters and strictly implementing RA 10054 or
otherwise known as the “Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009”.

Rationale

This study is undertaken to find out whether the selected motorist of Cotabato City are aware of the RA 10054 or
otherwise known as “Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009” and to prove that using helmet is can help one lessen the
graveness of an accident. Through this study, it will be a great help to convince others to use their helmet while
driving motorcycle.

The findings of this is also beneficial all motorcycle drivers to realize the importance of wearing helmet instead of
looking in the negative sides.