Faulty comparisons plague CDC task
force push for universal helmet laws
July 09, 2014
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A new recommendation for universal
motorcycle helmet laws by a task force of the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention is based on faulty reasoning, the
American Motorcyclist Association reports.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force asserts
that universal motorcycle helmet laws will reduce the rate of
motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes. The recommendation is
based on studies of U.S. states and foreign countries that require
all riders to wear helmets, those that require only minors to wear
helmets and those that have no helmet requirement.
"Researchers examined evidence from the United States
and other high-income countries [made available through the
United Nations' World Health Organization] and found that
implementation of universal laws in place of partial helmet laws or
no law led to substantial increases in helmet use and decreases
in motorcycle-related deaths and injuries," according to the task
force's statement. "When universal helmet laws were repealed
and replaced with partial laws or no law, the opposite effects
were seen; helmet use decreased substantially and motorcyclerelated deaths and injuries increased."
To adequately assess the role of helmet laws in preventing
serious injury or death in crashes, the CDC task force members
would first have had to identify the fatal injury in each crash, then
determine whether use of a helmet would have prevented that injury
or reduced its effect, thereby saving the life of the motorcyclist.
However, the CDC task force cites no such detailed analysis
and offers no evidence that the use of a helmet would have
lessened or eliminated the fatal injuries in a significant number
of crashes. Instead, task force members merely looked at the
numbers and drew their conclusion.
"Correlation does not imply causation," said Wayne Allard,
AMA's vice president for government relations. "Instead of trying
to draw conclusions from this type of observation, the CDC task
force could have better spent its time and resources searching
for cures for infectious diseases."
The AMA has long advocated the voluntary use of helmets, but
opposes mandates because helmets do nothing to reduce the
likelihood of a crash.
"Rider education and motorist awareness/distracted-driver
programs -- which are threatened when scarce funds are
siphoned into helmet mandate enforcement -- should be the
focus of the safety community," Allard said.
The AMA strongly encourages the use of personal protective
equipment, including gloves, sturdy footwear and a properly
fitted motorcycle helmet certified by its manufacturer to meet
the DOT standard. However, adults should have the right to
voluntarily decide when to wear a helmet. The AMA does not
oppose laws requiring helmets for minor motorcycle operators
and passengers.
"Helmet use alone is insufficient to ensure a motorcyclist's
safety," Allard said. "There is a broad range of additional
voluntary measures that can be implemented to improve the
skill of motorcycle operators, as well as reduce the frequency of
situations where other vehicle operators are the cause of crashes
that involve motorcycles."
A complete statement of the AMA's position on
universal mandatory helmet laws can be found here:www.
americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/PositionStatements/
VoluntaryHelmetUse.aspx.
www.thunderroadscolorado.com
October 2014
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 5