TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2000//
TI  - The effect of the Taiwan motorcycle helmet use law on head injuries
JO  - American journal of public health
A1  - Chen, Mei
A1  - Hung, C. C.
A1  - Kuo, Chao-Yin
A1  - Chiu, Wai Tat
SP  - 793
EP  - 796
VL  - 90
IS  - 5
N2  - OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of the motorcycle helmet law implemented in Taiwan on June 1, 1997. METHODS: Collecting data on 8,795 cases of motorcycle-related head injuries from 56 major Taiwanese hospitals, we compared the situation 1 year before and after implementation of the helmet law. RESULTS: After implementation of the law, the number of motorcycle-related head injuries decreased by 33%, from 5,260 to 3,535. Decreases in length of hospital stay and in severity of injury and better outcome were also seen. The likelihood ratio chi 2 test showed that severity decreased after the law's implementation (P < .001). Full helmets were found to be safer than half-shell helmets. CONCLUSION: The helmet law effectively decreased the mortality and morbidity from motorcycle-related head injuries.
LA  - 
SN  - 0090-0036
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -