The NC General Assembly is proposing to repeal North Carolina's effective and cost-saving motorcycle helmet law. It is estimated that a repeal of NC's current helmet law would cost the state $148 million per year in additional medical and work loss costs.

1. Motorcyclist Injuries in North
Carolina

2. A Comparison of
Helmet Use Among
Motorcyclist Fatalities
in the Southeastern
United States: 2010
• North Carolina has one of the
highest percentages of helmet use
in the Southeast.
• Helmet use is nearly 36 percent
higher in North Carolina (93.7%)
than the Southeast (69%) and 65
percent higher than the United
States as a whole (56.7%).
Source: National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 2010
Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

3. Rates of Motorcyclist and Motor Vehicle Fatalities by
Year per 100,000 Registered Vehicles: North Carolina,
2000-2010
Source: National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 2000-2010
Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

4. Number of Motorcyclist Fatalities Expected with a
Repeal of the Helmet Law: North Carolina, 2001-2010
350 Motorcycle helmets saved an
estimated 877 lives over ten
300
years.
250
200 Number of
expected
150 deaths without
a helmet law.
100
m
N
D
50
o
h
d
p
b
u
e
a
E
x
c
s
r
t
f
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Year
Actual Number of Deaths Excess Deaths
Source: National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 2001-2010
Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

5. Observed and Expected Costs Associated with a
Repeal of the Helmet Law: North Carolina, 2010
Estimated Lifetime Costs Associated with Motorcyclist Fatalities
Costs Associated with Costs Associated with
Actual Number of Number of Excess
Fatalities Fatalities
Medical Cost $2,807,000 $1,646,000
Work Loss Cost $250,261,000 $146,750,000
Total Combined Costs $253,068,000 $148,396,000
In 2010, helmets saved nearly $148 million in costs* associated with
motorcyclist fatalities.
Source: CDC WISQARS
Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit
*Costs expressed in 2010 North Carolina prices

6. Hospitalization Charges Associated with
Motorcyclist Injuries: North Carolina, 2011*
*Charges may not reflect final costs.
• In 2011, more than
$75 million dollars in
Hospital Charges (Millions)
$23.7
$25
hospitalization charges $20
$14.3 $13.7
were associated with $15
$10 $7.2
$11.2
$5.4
motorcyclist injuries. $5
$0
BCBS
Other Federal
n/Self-Pay
Medicaid
Medicare
Insurance
Unknow
• $19 million (26
Other
Type
Program
percent ) were charged
to Medicare or Health Insurance Type
Medicaid.
Source: State Center for Health Statistics, Hospital Discharge File, 2011 (Provisional)
Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

7. Motorcyclist Hospitalizations with a Traumatic Brain
Injury (TBI): North Carolina, 2011
Of the 1,101 motorcyclist hospitalizations, 25 percent
(275) had a TBI. Motorcyclists with TBI were 8 times more
100%
likely to die compared with those without a TBI. In
Percent of Hospitalizations
80% 71% addition, the average charge for TBI patients was $83,428
61% compared to $63,688 for other motorcyclist injuries.
60%
40%
20% 14% 13%
7% 5% 9% 5% 3%
1% 4% 5%
0%
th
h
e
F*
b
n
m
at
ha
ow
al
SN
Ho
De
He
Re
kn
F,
n
e
LT
/U
m
F,
Ho
er
*ICF: intermediate care facility; LTF:
IC
h
long-term care facility; SNF: skilled
Disposition Ot
nursing facility
TBI All
Source: State Center for Health Statistics, Hospital Discharge File, 2011 (Provisional)
Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit