Traffic accidents: Is a crash helmet mandatory for pedal cyclists?

  • Ivana Čurović Odjeljenje za sudsku medicinu, Klinički centar Crne Gore
  • Marko Vuković Clinical Centre of Montenegro Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro
  • Nemanja Radojević Department of Forensic medicine Clinical Centre of Montenegro Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/cma1-4692

Sažetak


INTRODUCTION Traffic accidents are the third leading cause of death, following cardiovascular events and malignancies. Motorcyclists and pedal cyclists are in high fatal risk mainly due to specificity of their vehicle's construction. Crash helmets for motorcyclists are mandatory in most countries. Estimating the forensic characteristics of fatally injured pedal cyclists, the necessity of using helmet will be evaluated. 

MATERIAL AND METHODS Using observational retrospective study, medicolegal characteristics are compared between 27 fatally injured pedal cyclists and 32 motorcyclists, by the type of accident,  and the cause of death.

RESULTS Crash-fall ratio in pedal cyclist group is 26:1, comparing to 24:8 for motorcyclist, which is significantly different (p=0.030). There is no statistical difference comparing the number of participants who sustained fatal head injury between the groups (p>0.05), as well as between those with the neck injuries. Motorcyclists had significantly higher rate of thoraco-abominal fatal injuries (p=0.014). Despite of non-wearing helmets, only 41% motorcyclists' deaths were caused by fatal head injuries. There exists a significantly lower rate of thoraco-abdominal injuries in pedal cyclists versus motorcyclists, which indicates their head is the most frequently injured part of their body. 

CONCLUSION Nevertheless helmet use is rare in pedal cyclists and most legal systems do not regulated it, the results of presented as well as of the other similar studies, suggest that wearing of crash helmet is necessary. The recommendation based on presented study is addressed on changing legal regulation to mandatory helmet wearing in pedal cyclists, as it is regulated for motorcyclists.

Biografije autora

Ivana Čurović, Odjeljenje za sudsku medicinu, Klinički centar Crne Gore
Forensic medical trainee
Marko Vuković, Clinical Centre of Montenegro Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro
Doctor of medicine
Nemanja Radojević, Department of Forensic medicine Clinical Centre of Montenegro Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro
Forensic pathologist

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Objavljeno
2013/12/29
Broj časopisa
Vol. 1 Br. 2 (2013): Medical Journal of Montenegro
Rubrika
Stručni članak
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