July 1982
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8 Reads
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4 Citations
Atlantic Economic Journal
As motorcycles have become more popular over the last two decades, motorcycle related deaths have risen. Methods to reduce fatalities have originated in both the private and public sector. The most ambitious of the public sector attempts to promote safety were the helmet use laws. The empirical results of this study indicate a significant relationship between the lack of a helmet use law and an increase in the fatality rate. Although a rider may ride more carefully when not wearing a helmet, this study indicates that this care is offset by the lack of crash protection provided by a helmet. Thus, at least for the years 1976–1979, one cannot reject the hypothesis that motorcycle helmet use laws have saved lives.