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. 2000 May;90(5):793-6.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.90.5.793.

The effect of the Taiwan motorcycle helmet use law on head injuries

W T Chiu  1 , C Y Kuo, C C Hung, M Chen
Affiliations

The effect of the Taiwan motorcycle helmet use law on head injuries

W T Chiu et al. Am J Public Health. 2000 May.

Abstract

Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of the motorcycle helmet law implemented in Taiwan on June 1, 1997.

Methods: Collecting data on 8795 cases of motorcycle-related head injuries from 56 major Taiwanese hospitals, we compared the situation 1 year before and after implementation of the helmet law.

Results: After implementation of the law, the number of motorcycle-related head injuries decreased by 33%, from 5260 to 3535. Decreases in length of hospital stay and in severity of injury and better outcome were also seen. The likelihood ratio chi 2 test showed that severity decreased after the law's implementation (P < .001). Full helmets were found to be safer than half-shell helmets.

Conclusion: The helmet law effectively decreased the mortality and morbidity from motorcycle-related head injuries.

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