Helmet use, patterns of injury, medical outcome, and costs among motorcycle drivers in Maryland.

A comprehensive study was conducted of all motorcycle traffic crashes occurring in Maryland during a one-year period. All available medical and cost data were linked with police crash reports. During the study period, 1,900 motorcycle drivers were involved in crashes. The data indicated that (i) helmet usage was 35% overall, 30% among fatally injured drivers, and only 16% among drivers with a history of drug/alcohol conviction, (ii) unhelmeted drivers seen at an emergency department were almost twice as likely to have sustained head injury (40%) as were helmeted drivers (21%) (the corresponding percentages for hospitalized drivers were 55% and 38%), and (iii) acute care cost for unhelmeted drivers was three times ($30,365) that of helmeted drivers.