Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T01:56:21.728Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Motorcycle Policy and the Public Interest: A Recommendation for a New Type of Partial Motorcycle Helmet Law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

Abstract

Motorcycle helmet laws are perceived to infringe upon individual rights even though they reduce mortality and health care costs. We describe proposed helmet legislation that protects individual rights and provides incentives for helmet use through a differential motorcycle registration fee that requires higher fees for those who wish to ride without a helmet.

Type
Symposium Articles
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 2017

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

CDC, Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths in Metropolitan Areas-United States, 2009,” MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 61, no. 28 (2012): 523-528.Google Scholar
CDC, “Helmet Use among Motorcyclists Who Died in Crashes and Economic Cost Savings Associated with State Motorcycle Helmet Laws–United States, 2008-2010,” MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 61, no. 23 (2012): 425-430.Google Scholar
de Rome, L., Ivers, R., Fitzharris, M., Haworth, N., Heritier, S., Richardson, D., “Effectiveness of Motorcycle Protective Clothing: Riders' Health Outcomes in the Six Months Following a Crash,” Injury 43, no. 12 (2012): 2035-2045.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Philip, A. F., Fangman, W., Liao, J., Lilienthal, M., and Choi, K., “Helmets Prevent Motorcycle Injuries with Significant Economic Benefits,” Traffic Injury Prevention 14, no. 5 (2013): 496-500; J. G. Crompton, T. A. Oyetunji, and K. M. Pollack et al., “Association between Helmets and FacialInjury after a Motorcycle Collision: An Analysis of More Than 40,000 Patients from the National Trauma Data Bank,” Archives of Surgery 147, no. 7 (2012): 674-676; H. Dao, J. Lee, and R. Kermani et al., “Cervical Spine Injuries and Helmet Laws: A Population-Based Study,” Journal of Traume and Acute Care Surgery 72, no. 3 (2012): 638-641; M. Byrnes and S. Gerberich, “Motorcycle Helmet Use and Legislation: A Systematic Review of the Literature,” Minnesota Medicine 95, no. 1 (2012): 60-65; S. Ankarath, P. V. Giannoudis, I. Barlow, M. C. Bellamy, S. J. Matthews, and R. M. Smith, “Injury Patterns Associated with Mortality Following Motorcycle Crashes,” Injury 33 (2002): 473-477.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, H. Y., Chen, Y. H., Chiu, W. T., Hwang, J. S., and Wang, J. D., “Quality-Adjusted Life-Years and Helmet Use among Motor-cyclists Sustaining Head Injuries,” American Journal of Public Health 100, no. 1 (2010): 165-170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Abbas, A. K., Hefny, A. F., and Abu-Zidan, F. M., “Does Wearing Helmets Reduce Motorcycle-Related Death? A Global Evaluation,” Accident Analysis & Prevention 49 (2012): 249-252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, M. M. and Bayer, R., “Paternalism and Its Discontents: Motorcycle Helmet Laws, Libertarian Values, and Public Health,” American Journal of Public Health 97, no. 2 (2007): 208-217; T. Skelley, “Freedom, Safety Steer Helmet Debate: Adult Motorcyclists Make Own Choices about Life-Saving Gear,” Elbert County News, July 25, 2016.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
See CDC, supra note 2; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, “Motorcycles: Motorcycle Helmet Use,” updated January 2017, available at <http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/laws/helmetuse?topicName=motorcycles> (last visited January 18, 2017).+(last+visited+January+18,+2017).>Google Scholar
Id. (Insurance).Google Scholar
Id.; Mandatory use of protective helmets., Section 66-7-356 NMSA 1978 New Mexico Statutes(1991).Google Scholar
See CDC, supra note 2; Richardson, L. E. Jr., Houston, D. J., “Federalism and Safety on America's Highways,” Publius 39, no. 1 (2009):117-137; J. Mayrose, “The Effects of a Mandatory Motorcycle Helmet Law on Helmet Use and Injury Patterns among Motorcyclist Fatalities,” Journal of Safety Research 39, no. 4 (2008): 429-432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wiley, L. F., Berman, M. L., and Blanke, D., “Who's Your Nanny? Choice, Paternalism and Public Health in the Age of Personal Responsibility,” Jounal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 41, no. 1 (2013): 88-91; W. E. Parmet, R. A. Goodman, and A. Farber, “Individual Rights Versus the Public's Health–100 Years after Jacobson v. Massachusetts,” New England Journal of Medicine 352, no. 7 (2005): 652-654.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
See Jones, and Bayer, , supra note 13.Google Scholar
See Wiley, et al., supra note 12.Google Scholar
See Jones, and Bayer, , supra note 7.Google Scholar
See CDC, supra note 2; CDC, “Motorcycle Safety Guide: Universal Helmet Laws Increase Helmet Use,” 2012, available at <https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/mc/index.html> (last visited January 18, 2017).+(last+visited+January+18,+2017).>Google Scholar
See CDC, supra note 2.Google Scholar
Houston, D. J. and Richardson, L. E., “Motorcyclist Fatality Rates and Mandatory Helmet-Use Laws,” Accident & Analysis Prevention 40, no. 1 (2008): 200-208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Houston, D. J., “The Case for Universal Motorcycle Helmet Laws,” Southern Medical Journal 103, no. 1 (2010): 1-2; K. J. Mertz and H. B. Weiss, “Changes in Motorcycle-Related Head Injury Deaths, Hospitalizations, and Hospital Charges Following Repeal of Pennsylvania's Mandatory Motorcycle Helmet Law,” American Journal of Public Health 98, no. 8 (2008): 1464-1467; E. L. Ho and M. J. Haydel, “Louisiana Motorcycle Fatalities Linked to Statewide Helmet Law Repeal,” Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society 156, no. 3 (2004): 151-152, at 154-155, 157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weiss, H., Agimi, Y., and Steiner, C., “Youth Motorcycle-Related Brain Injury by State Helmet Law Type: United States, 2005-2007,” Pediatrics 126, no. 6 (2010): 1149-1155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Houston, D. J., “Are Helmet Laws Protecting Young Motorcyclists?” J of Safety Research 38, no. 3 (2007): 329-336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, C. V., Hejl, K., Bui, E., Tips, G., and Coopwood, B., “Risk Factors for Riding and Crashing a Motorcycle Unhelmeted,” Journal of Emergency Medicine 41, no. 4 (2011): 441-446.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hundley, J. C., Kilgo, P. D., and Miller, P. R. et al., “Non-helmeted Motorcyclists: A Burden to Society? A Study Using the National Trauma Data Bank,” Journal of Trauma 57, no. 5 (2004): 944-949.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McSwain, N. E. Jr., and Belles, A., “Motorcycle Helmets–Medical Costs and the Law,” Journal of Trauma 30, no. 10 (1990): 1189-1197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eastridge, B. J., Shafi, S., Minei, J. P., Culica, D., McConnel, C., and Gentilello, L., “Economic Impact of Motorcycle Helmets: From Impact to Discharge,” Journal of Trauma 60, no. 5 (2006): 978-983.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
See CDC, supra note 2.Google Scholar
DMV.org, “Motorcycle Registration in New Mexico,” 2013, available at <http://www.dmv.org/nm-new-mexico/motorcycle-registration.php> (last visited January 18, 2017).+(last+visited+January+18,+2017).>Google Scholar
Chaloupka, F. J., Straif, K., and Leon, M. E., “Effectiveness of Tax and Price Policies in Tobacco Control,” Tobacco Control 20, no. 3 (2010): 235-238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
See Jones and Bayer, supra note 7; Riding on seat of bicycle, motorcycle, moped, or ectric personal assistive mobility device; number of persons; wearing of crash helmet; conditions; rules; requirements for autocycle., Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.658 (5). Michigan Vehicle Code(2012); Equipment for motorcycle and moped riders.—, Fla. Stat. § 316.211(3)(b); Protective Headgear for Motorcycle Operators and Passengers, Texas Transportation Code § 661.003(c). Texas Transportation Code: Title 7, Subtitle G.(2001).Google Scholar
Id. (Mich. Comp. Laws).Google Scholar
Id.; see Fla. Stat., supra note 31.Google Scholar
See Brown, et al., supra note 23.Google Scholar
An Act Relating to Traumatic Injuries; Requiring the Use of Motorcycle Safety Helmets; Providing Exceptions; Creating a Distinctive Motorcycle Validating Sticker Allowing Certain Operators and Passengers to Refrain From Wearing a Sarety Helmet; Creating the Fatal-Injury Diagnosis and Reporting Fund; Prescribing Penalties; Making Appropriations. Ortiz y Pino G, trans. 52nd Legislature-State of New Mexico - First Session, 2015 ed.Google Scholar
An Act Relating to Motorcycles; Requiring the Use of Safety Helmets for All Motorcycle Operators and Passengers; Prescribing a Penalty. Ortiz y Pino G, trans. 52nd Legislature-State of New Mexico - First Session, 2015 ed.Google Scholar
See Wiley et al., supra note 12; Dorfman, L., Wallack, L., and Woodruff, K., “More Than a Message: Framing Public Health Advocacy to Change Corporate Practices,” Health Education and Behaviour 32, no. 3 (2005): 320-336; G. Matthews, S. Burris, S. L. Ledford, and E. L. Baker, “Advocacy for Leaders: Crafting Richer Stories for Public Health,” Journal of Public Health Management and Practice: JPHMP 22, no. 3 (2016): 311-315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lakoff, G., The Political Mind: A Cognitive Scientist's Guide to Your Brain and Its Politics (New York: Viking Penguin, 2008); G. Lakoff, Don't Think of an Elephant! Know Your Values and Frame the Debate (White River Junction: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2004); J. Haidt, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion (New York: Pantheon Books, 2012).Google Scholar
Id. (Lakoff, 2008).Google Scholar
See Haidt, , supra note 38.Google Scholar
See Lakoff, (2008), supra note 38.Google Scholar
See Haidt, , supra note 38.Google Scholar
See Lakoff, (2008), supra note 38.Google Scholar
See Haidt, , supra note 38.Google Scholar
See Lakoff, (2008), supra note 38.Google Scholar
See Haidt, , supra note 38.Google Scholar