A Statistical Analysis of Motorcycle Helmet Wearing in Greece

Abstract

This article reports on a study of motorcycle helmet use in Greece. The authors remind readers that wearing a helmet is the single most effective way of reducing head injuries and fatalities resulting from motorcycle crashes. They conducted an on-site observational survey and then developed a binary logistic regression model to analyze the data. The independent variables used were time of the day, motorcycle type, road type and riders’ characteristics (gender, age and position on the motorcycle, i.e., driver or passenger). Pseudo-elasticity values for all variables were calculated in order to quantify the impact of each variable on helmet use. The authors found low rates of helmet use. However, the rates were higher in rural than in urban areas and higher for drivers of large motorcycles. The authors conclude that motorcycle helmet wearing should be rigorously enforced at a population level. Community education campaigns for motorcyclists should also be promoted and public awareness of the crash risk associated with riding without a helmet should be increased.