CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter contains the literature related to the challenges in the implementation

of the mandatory use of motorcycle helmets for riders

Motorcycles as a popular mode of transportation

The growing demand for mobility in urban areas and poor public transportation

service has led to congestion. Motorcycles have become popular due to their

operational flexibility and low acquisition costs in rural areas without public

transportation. Motorcycle sales increased by 10.5% per year on average in the

Philippines between 2009 and 2015, outpacing overall vehicle growth. Motorcycles, on

the other hand, are more vulnerable to road accidents, with the highest occurrence of

fatal crashes and serious injuries, according to (Napalang et al 2018).

Motorcycles are popular because of their versatility and practicality, but their

growing popularity has resulted in an increase in accident rates, research indicates

(Napalang et al.,2018). Helmets have been shown to lower the risk of head injuries and

fatalities in motorcycle crashes. However, Despite the known benefits, many people,

including university students, refuse to utilize helmets when riding bikes, mopeds, or

motorcycles (Dawoud & Gutierrez, 2020).

By (Moghisi, 2005), traffic accidents kill approximately 1.2 million individuals per year, with

motorcyclists being the majority of those killed within low- and middle-income countries.

Following Satkoske (2013), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and private
institutions studied crash statistics and discovered a direct link between helmet laws and an

increase in traumatic brain injuries and death. Helmet use is significantly reduced as a result of

the challenged laws.

Based on (Zargar M, et al. 2006), motorcycles are a popular mode of transportation in Iran, with

over 2 million in Tehran, particularly among men. As stated (Moghisi A, 2005), head injuries

account for nearly 70% of motorcycle fatalities, with non-use or improper helmet use being the

most common cause. Numerous research studies have shown that wearing safety helmets

correctly reduces the number of injuries and fatalities among motorcycle riders during collisions

(Liu BC, et al. 2008). The majority of nations, including Iran, demand motorcycle riders to wear a

helmet at all times while riding.

Benefits of wearing helmets to Motorcycle riders

By (B.T. Stewart et al, 2016) and (Ahmed et al, 2016), helmet use is a common issue in

developing nations, with over 50% of motorcycle accident-related injuries being severe or fatal.

Helmet use is low due to misunderstandings about riders' actions and failures in enforcement

actions. Every year, over a million people are killed or injured in car accidents around the world,

and the total amount of injuries exceeds 20 to 50 times the value of the fatalities. The majority

of these accidents occur in middle nations with low revenues (World Health Organization

Global Status Report on Road Safety 2013: Supporting a Decade of Action).

full-face helmets. Furthermore, non-compliant helmets lack energy-absorbing materials, cover

only a portion of the rider's head, and have inadequate chin straps, according to (Rice et al,

2017). Due to these labels, some courts find it challenging to enforce a noncompliant helmet

citation (NHCRP, 2008, Strategy E1). To strengthen the requirements for helmet labeling and to

make it simpler to demonstrate that a helmet is noncompliant, the NHTSA issued a Final Rule in

May 2011 that went into effect in May 2013. Helmet laws must be strictly enforced, widely

publicized, and adequately funded to be effective. To help riders and law enforcement

distinguish between compliant helmets and those that are not, NHTSA produced a video clip

(NHTSA, 2006).

Implementation of wearing a helmet in motorcycle riders

Only 19 states and the District of Columbia in the US have laws requiring all drivers to wear helmets. As

a result, every motorcycle rider is required to put on a helmet each time they mount their machines. The

majority of the remaining states have laws requiring motorcycle riders under a certain age, such as 17 or

20, to always wear a helmet when riding (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2017). (Pathway, 2015)

Additionally, there are three states (Iowa, Illinois, and New Hampshire) where the wearing of helmets

while driving is completely unregulated. All nations in the European Union have passed laws requiring

helmet use for anyone riding a motorcycle.

Since there is no way to avoid this law anywhere in the EU, Pathway (2017) concluded that everyone

must always be wearing the proper protective headgear when they are out on the road, whether they

are going for a leisurely ride through the backcountry or to get to work in the city. Additionally, specific

requirements must be met by every helmet used on UK roads.

injuries and deaths, accounting for 88% of fatalities involving motorized two-wheeler crashes in LMICs.

Large-scale ecological studies have demonstrated that reductions in mortality and morbidity follow

increases in helmet use when prompted by changes in laws or enforcement, indicating that wearing a

helmet is a practical way to lessen head injuries from two-wheeled motorized accidents

In a comprehensive analysis, Abbas (2015) discovered that not wearing a helmet was the biggest factor

influencing the death rate of motorcyclists in RTIs and that wearing a helmet lowers the likelihood of

dying in an accident. By the 2009 Cochrane systematic review, wearing a helmet decreased the risk of

fatalities and other injuries for motorcycle crash victims. In comparison to those who don't wear

helmets, those who survive motorcycle crashes have lower expenses related to hospitalization in the US.

Barriers and factors associated with the use of helmets by Motorcyclists

According to Peden et al. (2004), Badea-Romero and Lenard (2013), the majority of crash

fatalities and injuries are sustained by vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, cyclists on

pedals, and pedestrians. According to studies by Lin and Kraus (2008), Bachani et al. (2013), and

the World Health Organization (2013), motorcycle riders are up to 30 times more likely than car

occupants to be involved in fatal crashes, accounting for one-third to more than half of all

crash-related fatalities. Head and neck injuries are the most frequent form of injuries among

riders of two-wheeled vehicles, and they are considered to be the first cause of fatalities

following motorcycle-related incidents, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report

on worldwide road safety.

The literature has already looked into the protective effects of wearing a helmet (Macleod et

al., 2010, Byrnes and Gerberich, 2012, Olivier and Creighton, 2017). According to Liu et al.
(2008), wearing a helmet would reduce the risk of brain injury and fatality associated with

crashes by 69% and 42%, respectively. To increase the percentage of people who wear helmets

and their awareness of safety issues, legislative solutions and educational initiatives have been

created and put into place in about 94% of the world's countries (Liu et al., 2008; World Health

Organization, 2015). The effectiveness of helmet use in underdeveloped nations is still hotly

contested (Liu et al., 2008; World Health Organization, 2015). Additionally, evidence indicates

that many countries' official and self-reported helmet use rates are still low.

The main reasons why Ghanaian motorcyclists don't wear helmets are obstruction of vision

(45%), physical discomfort (36%), and the statement that "not traveling on long journeys"; less

frequently cited reasons include provision costs and forgetfulness (15% and 20.5%). Although it

may appear insignificant, the challenges associated with wearing and transporting helmets, in

addition to the increased perceived danger and windy conditions associated with longer rides,

are significant drivers of this behavior (Akaateba et al., 2015). According to another survey from

Ghana, discomfort (30%), short journeys (27.3%), and helmet ownership (22.8%) were the top

three reasons given for not wearing helmets (Nimako Aidoo et al., 2018).