Motorcycle helmet standards

In Canada, all riders on motorcycles must wear crash helmets at all times. In spite of this requirement, 6% of the motorcyclists that died and 2.4% of those that were injured in crashes in Canada during 2011 were not wearing a motorcycle helmet at the time of the crash (Transport Canada, 2013).

Motorcyclists in Canada must wear helmets that have been approved for use by the provinces and territories. The most commonly accepted motorcycle helmets in use in Canada are those that have been certified based on the United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 (DOT), SNELL M2010, which is considered to be a higher level than the DOT requirements, or the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ECE 22.05 regulation. ECE 22.05 is the most common motorcycle helmet standard used internationally, and is required by more than 50 countries worldwide (Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 2102). In recent years, a number of provinces (i.e., Québec, Ontario, British Columbia) have recognized the ECE 22.05 helmet standard. In some Canadian jurisdictions, helmets that are certified by other organizations (i.e., British Standards Institute, American National Standards Institute) are also accepted (Société de l’assurance automobile Québec, 2013).

Johnson et al. (1996) conducted a study to examine the effectiveness of motorcycle helmets and seat belts in reducing fatalities and injuries. Crash data from seven states in the United States, some with-and some without motorcyclist helmet use laws were analysed. The results of the study showed that motorcycle helmets were 67% effective at preventing brain injuries, and that unhelmeted motorcyclists who were involved in crashes were three times more likely to suffer brain injuries than those wearing helmets.

Deutermann (2004) carried out a study to provide an updated effectiveness estimate of motorcycle helmets in preventing fatalities in motorcycle crashes. Technological changes that occurred during the previous 15 years which contributed to improvements in the design and materials used to manufacture helmets provided the impetus for the study. Ten years of motorcyclist fatality data (1993-2002) from the Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) were analysed. The results of the study showed that the improved helmets were 37% effective at reducing fatalities among crash-involved motorcyclists. The previous estimate of effectiveness, which analysed 1982 to 1987 motorcyclist fatality data from the FARS data file, was 29%.

A Cochrane Collaboration review of studies that assessed the effectiveness of motorcycle helmets in reducing fatalities and head and neck injuries following motorcycle crashes concluded that helmets reduce the risk of head injury by around 69% and death by around 42%. The authors of the review noted that the enforcement of helmet safety standards must go hand in hand with motorcycle helmet legislation (Liu et al., 2008).

Brown et al. (2011) conducted a study to identify the characteristics of individuals who rode motorcycles unhelmeted and to compare the outcomes of helmeted and unhelmeted crash-involved motorcyclists. Thirteen years of crash data (1994-2006) on motorcyclists admitted to a Level II trauma centre were analysed. The results of the analysis showed that unhelmeted riders had more severe injuries, higher rates of severe disability, spent more days in hospital and in intensive care, incurred higher hospital charges, and had higher mortality rates. The authors of the study found that motorcyclists who were intoxicated, uninsured, or passengers were less likely to wear a helmet.

Scope of the Problem

• Transport Canada (2013). National Collision Database. Retrieved from http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/NCDB-BNDC/p.aspx?l=en

Evidence

• Ontario Ministry of Transportation (2012). Motorcycle Helmet Standards. Retrieved from http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=8502
• Société de l’assurance automobile Québec (2013). Road Safety, Everything you need to know about protective helmets. Retrieved from http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/road_safety/vehicles/helmets/know.php
• Johnson, S.W., & Walker, J. (1996). The Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES). (Report No. DOT HS 808 338), National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Washington, D.C. Retrieved from http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/808-338.pdf
• Deuterman, W. (2004). Motorcycle Helmet Effectiveness Revisited. (Report No. DOT HS 809 715). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/809715.PDF
• Liu, B. C.; Ivers, R.; Norton, R.; Boufous, S.; Blows, S.; Lo, S. K. (2008). Helmets for preventing injury in motorcycle riders. The Cochrane Collaboration. Retrieved from http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/userfiles/ccoch/file/Safety_on_the_road/CD004333.pdf
• Brown, C.V.R., Hejl, K., Bui, E., Tips, G., & Coopwood, B. (2011). Risk Factors for Riding and Crashing a Motorcycle Unhelmeted. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. Volume 41, Issue 4, October 2011, Pages 441-446. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0736467909006519