Driver's license, head protection devices and severity of motorcyclists' injuries in traffic accidents.

Objectives: to describe traffic accidents involving motorcyclists and analyze the association between possession of a motorcycle driver's license and use of helmets according to the severity of injuries.

Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted among all patients hospitalized in the traumatology and orthopedics sector of a public reference hospital in northeastern Brazil.

Results: 170 patients were surveyed, the majority were male (95.9%). Their ages ranged from 18 to 67 years. Most were black or brown (52.3%), had completed elementary school (58.9%) and had monthly income smaller than two minimum wages (56.5%). An association was found between being licensed to drive a motorcycle and wearing a helmet. Among those who suffered moderate injuries, this association was OR=5.66(1.85-17.23) and among those who suffered severe injuries it was OR=13.57(2.82-65.14).

Conclusions: people who were licensed to drive motorcycles used a helmet as protective equipment more often and, in accidents, suffered fewer injuries.