Johns Hopkins Study Finds that Helmet Use Helps Prevent Injuries
In 2009, in Florida, motorcycle fatalities accounted for 15.6% of all traffic fatalities. According to a new study conducted by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle does in fact reduce a person’s chance of suffering from cervical spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries. This new study debunks the long standing belief that helmets actually increase the likelihood of spinal injuries.
Researchers studied information from more than 40,000 motorcycle collisions between 2002 and 2006 and found that helmet wearing motorcyclists were 65% less likely to suffer traumatic brain injury, 22% less likely to suffer cervical spine injuries, and 37% less likely to die in the event of an accident than motorcyclists who do not wear helmets.
Florida’s helmet law was repealed in 2000. Since then, according to the Florida Department of Transportation, the number of fatal crashes increased by 21%, suggesting that persons not wearing helmets are more likely to suffer serious injury. In 2009, 47% of motorcyclists were not wearing a helmet before a fatal crash.
Forty years ago, all states required all motorcycle riders to wear helmets. Today, helmets are mandatory for all riders only in 20 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
It is always wise for a motorcyclist to wear a helmet in order to help prevent brain and spinal injuries, paralysis, and even death in the event of an accident.
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