Effect of the helmet act for motorcyclists in Thailand

doi:10.1016/S0001-4575(01)00102-6

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Volume 35, Issue 2, March 2003, Pages 183-189

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-4575(01)00102-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of the helmet act for motorcyclists on increasing helmet use and reducing motorcycle-related deaths and severe injuries in Thailand.

Methods: Data were derived from a trauma registry at the Khon Kaen Regional Hospital in the northeast Thailand. Helmet use and outcome in motorcycle crashes were compared 2 years before (1994–1995) and after (1996–1997) enforcement of the helmet act. During the study period, there were 12,002 injured motorcyclists including 129 death cases in the municipality of Khon Kaen Province who were brought to the regional hospital.

Results: After enforcement of the helmet act, helmet-wearers increased five-fold while head injuries decreased by 41.4% and deaths by 20.8%. Those who had head or neck injuries or died were less likely wearing a helmet. Compliance of helmet use was lower at night. Fatality of injured motorcyclists did not significantly decrease in the post-act period and among helmet-wearers.

Conclusion: Enforcement of the helmet act increased helmet-wearers among motorcyclists but helmet use did not significantly reduce deaths among injured motorcyclists. Motorcyclists should be instructed to properly and consistently wear a helmet for their safety.

Introduction

Traffic injuries have only quite recently been recognized as a major public health problem in developing countries (Smith and Barss, 1991, Feachem et al., 1992, Barss et al., 1998). In Thailand, mortality due to traffic injuries has started to increase in the late 1980s (SEAMIC, 1997). According to the report from all the hospitals in Thailand, approximately 80% of traffic trauma patients were motorcyclists and about half had head injuries. Besides, 90% of the traffic trauma patients were aged under 40 (Trauma Center Bulletin, 1996). Traffic injuries often involve severe cases and require critical care that eventually causes high medical costs and economic losses. Such burdens would be prolonged if the victims consequently sustain disabilities (Suphanchaimat et al., 1998). Since motorcycle crashes account for the majority of traffic injuries in Thailand, motorcyclists are a highest risk group of road users. In order to reduce motorcycle-related deaths, the helmet act for motorcyclists was enacted nationwide in Thailand in December 1994 and was subsequently enforced at regional level.

In this study, we investigated the effect of the helmet act on increasing helmet use and reducing deaths due to motorcycle crashes by using the data compiled at the regional hospital in rural Thailand.

Section snippets

Study area and background

The study was conducted at the Khon Kaen Regional Hospital in Khon Kaen Province, the first place in the country where trauma registry was established and systematically collects broader information about traumatic patients including helmet use among injured motorcyclists (Suphanchaimat et al., 1998). Khon Kaen Province is one of the populous provinces in Thailand, located in the northeast. There is over 1.7 million population that shares nearly 3% of the total population. The Khon Kaen

Results

Table 1 shows sex, age and occupational distribution of the injured motorcyclists, and time of motorcycle crashes before and after enforcement of the helmet act. The number of injured motorcyclists was reduced by 2414 cases (33.5%) from the pre-act to the post-act period although it should be cautiously taken into account that figures do not reflect the incidence rate. Sex, age and occupational distribution of the injured motorcyclists did not apparently change. Over 70% were males, aged

Discussion

This study investigated the effect of the helmet act by using trauma registry data derived from the regional hospital. We only looked at injured motorcyclists who were brought to the regional hospital. In the municipality, approximately 70% of trauma patients are brought to the regional hospital. If those brought to other hospitals differ from our subjects in terms of their characteristics, situation of motorcycle crash, and trauma care they receive, our findings could not be generalizable.

Acknowledgements

Authors thank Ms. Pornpimon Teekayuphun of the Khon Kaen Regional Hospital for her efforts in data management.

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Effect of the helmet act for motorcyclists in Thailand

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Study area and background

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgements

Accid. Anal. Prevent.

Accid. Anal. Prevent.

Accid. Anal. Prevent.

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

Am. J. Public Health

Risk factors for traffic accidents in Bangkok metropolis: a case–reference study

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health