Helmet Use and Motorcycle Fatalities in Taiwan

Abstract

Crash data from Taiwan provides a unique opportunity to study the effectiveness of helmets on saving lives because motorcycle deaths account for more than half of total traffic fatalities on the island. This study uses accident-specific data between 1999 and 2001 to estimate the effectiveness of helmets, simultaneously taking into account sample selection bias and other risk factors. The results show that sample selection does not seriously bias the estimate and helmets reduce the death rate by 50 percent which is higher than previously found. Without helmet use, the total number of motorcyclists killed in 2001 would have jumped by more than 70 percent. The estimated proportion of motorcyclists wearing a helmet has increased from 76% to 84% between 1999 and 2001. Hence, nearly one third of the decrease in motorcycle fatalities can be attributed to rising helmet use. Taiwan's implementation of the mandatory helmet law since 1997 has significantly reduced motorcycle fatalities. The estimated marginal willingness to pay for reduction in fatality risks in 2001 is close to $US723.