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AJPH First Look, published online ahead of print Dec 23, 2008
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March 2009, Vol 99, No. 3 | American Journal of Public Health 415-423
© 2009 American Public Health Association
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.134106

GOVERNMENT, POLITICS, AND LAW

Motorcycle Helmet Laws in the United States From 1990 to 2005: Politics and Public Health

Jenny Homer, MPA, MPH and Michael French, PhD

Jenny Homer is with the Sociology Research Center, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL. Michael French is with the Department of Sociology and the Sociology Research Center, University of Miami, Coral Gables.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Michael French, PhD, Department of Sociology, University of Miami, PO Box 248162, Coral Gables, FL 33124-2030 (e-mail: mfrench{at}miami.edu).

The passage of universal helmet legislation requiring motorcycle riders of all ages to wear helmets is a timely and controversial issue with far-reaching public health implications, especially as the number of motorcycle fatalities continues to rise. In 2008, only 20 states had a universal helmet policy, an effective safety measure for reducing motorcycle fatalities and serious injuries.

We used state-specific longitudinal data for the continental United States from 1990 through 2005 to determine which industry, political, economic, and demographic factors had a significant influence on the enactment of universal helmet policies. Our findings suggest that political climate and ideology are important predictors of helmet policies.






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