Moped and motorcycle accidents--similarities and discrepancies.

Injury patterns and epidemiologic data from 211 moped accident victims and 214 motorcycle accident casualties admitted to hospital over a 5-year period (1977-1981) have been analyzed and compared. The number of those injured in motorcycle accidents tripled; the number of moped accident victims slightly decreased in the period studied. Differences in injury pattern, sex ratio, cause of accident, and age distribution were noted. Among mopedists, head injuries were more common but these injuries decreased significantly after the adoption of helmet use laws for mopedists also in 1978. There were more females involved in moped accidents and the mean age was considerably higher among mopedists. Of those injured in moped accidents, 21% were 60 years old or older and accounted for 56% of fatalities in this group. The most frequent cause of moped accidents was collision with a car, and over turning or running off the road in motorcycle accidents. The difference in injury severity was unexpectedly small, although there was a tendency toward more severe injuries in motorcyclists. Moped accidents are so similar to motorcycle accidents that it seems unjustified to regard mopeds as harmless 'bicycles with a helper motor.' The need for formal registration, driving license, and helmet use laws for mopeds is apparent.