RESULTS OF
THE 1998 HAWAII HELMET USE SURVEY
Report to Motor Vehicle Safety Office
Department of Transportation
State of Hawaii
Karl Kim, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator)
Dean Watase (Research Assistant)
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
University of Hawaii
Tel: 808-956-7381
FAX: 808-956-6870
E-mail: karlk@hawaii.edu
I. INTRODUCTION
This report contains the results of the 1998 helmet use study in Hawaii. Currently, there is no law requiring helmet use for operators or passengers of motorcycles, mopeds, or bicycles. Data were collected and analyzed by the University of Hawaii’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning (UH). Field surveys were conducted at various sites on the four main Hawaiian islands during the months of January and February in 1998. The site selection and methodology employed was based on studies done in 1985 through 1997. During this year’s study, 808 operators were observed on motorcycles, 318 were on mopeds, and 619 were on bicycles.
II. SUMMARY
In 1998, helmet use for motorcycles stablized at 35.8%; but this is still lower than peak rate recorded in 1992. Helmet use for mopeds has increased slightly to 9.9%. Finally, bicycle helmet use rate has increased significantly to 36.6% today. Figure 1 depicts these trends.
FIGURE 1
OVERALL HELMET USE BY YEAR ACCORDING TO VEHICLE TYPE, 1992-1998
III. METHODOLOGY
For this study, helmet use was recorded at 120 sites throughout Hawaii. Two trained observers were stationed at each site for approximately 40 minutes. One member was responsible for observing vehicles while the other recorded the data on a standardized survey form. Data were entered into personal computers at the UH. It was then uploaded to a UNIX workstation where statistical analysis was performed using SAS, a statistical software package.
IV. FINDINGS
The results of the analysis are described according to the three vehicle types that were observed. They include details on:
(1) Motorcycles.
(2) Mopeds.
(3) Bicycles.
(1) MOTORCYCLES
Figure 2 shows state motorcycle helmet use for the 1992 through 1998 studies. The motorcycle helmet use rate among operators or passengers fell from 43.4% in 1992 to 35.7% in 1997 and stablized in 1998 at 35.8%. The chart also shows that Oahu has a greater percentage of helmet users (39.3%) than neighbor islands (23.8%). This was a similar pattern observed in the 1997 survey. In the 1998 survey, a total of 945 people were observed on motorcycles. With 95% confidence, the margin of error is +3.3% for the statewide motorcycle totals. Figure 2 below shows these trends.
FIGURE 2
MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE BY YEAR ACCORDING TO LOCATION, 1992-1998
Table 1 presents a more detailed breakdown of motorcycle helmet use throughout the state. It shows that Oahu has the greatest use (39.3%) of all islands, followed by Kauai (39.1%), Maui (27.4%), and Hawaii (17.1%). The difference between driver and passenger helmet use was greatest on Maui where 32.5% of drivers and 9.1% of passengers used helmets. Kauai was close behind at 36.1% and 50.0%, respectively. Oahu had the smallest difference between drivers (40.3%) and passengers (32.6%).
TABLE 1
MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE BY ISLANDS, 1998
|
FACTORS |
DRIVERS
|
PASSENGERS |
TOTAL |
|||
|
|
Total Observed
|
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Overall Helmeted |
|
BY ISLAND
Oahu Maui Hawaii
|
633 40 99 36 |
40.3% 32.5% 19.2% 36.1% |
92 11 24 10 |
32.6% 9.1% 8.3% 50.0% |
725 51 123 46 |
39.3% 27.5% 17.1% 39.1% |
|
Neighbor Islands State
|
175 808 |
18.9% 37.1% |
45 137 |
17.7% 27.7% |
223 945 |
23.8% 35.8% |
Figure 3 illustrates the geographical differences of helmet use on Oahu. Honolulu’s use rate stood at 38.1%. The highest helmet use rates were seen in the Ewa district (57.4%) followed by Wahiawa (50.0%) and Waianae (50.0%). Generally, helmet use for rural areas was higher than the urban core.
FIGURE 3
MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE BY DISTRICTS ON OAHU, 1998
Table 2 breaks down helmet use on motorcycles according to time of day, weather condition, vehicular speed, number of lanes, and week. See appendix for complete table.
TABLE 2
MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE ACCORDING TO VARIOUS FACTORS, 1998
|
FACTORS
|
DRIVERS
|
PASSENGERS |
TOTAL |
|||
|
|
Total Observed
|
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Overall Helmeted
|
|
BY TIME PERIOD
7:00 AM - 10:59 AM 11:00 AM - 2:59 PM 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM 7:00 PM and later
|
230 391 178 9
|
39.6% 37.3% 33.7% 33.3% |
31 67 39 0 |
35.5% 26.9% 23.1% 0.0%
|
261 458 217 9 |
39.1% 35.8% 31.8% 33.3% |
|
BY WEATHER
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy Night
|
662 92 57 7
|
36.7% 35.9% 43.9% 42.9% |
116 17 4 0 |
31.0% 5.9% 25.0% 0.00% |
768 109 61 7 |
35.8% 31.2% 42.6% 42.9% |
|
BY SPEED Below 25 MPH 25 - 34 MPH 35 - 44 MPH 45 - 54 MPH 55 or more MPH
|
16 202 390 171 29 |
37.5% 30.7% 34.1% 46.8% 65.5% |
4 35 74 21 3 |
0.0% 37.1% 24.3% 28.6% 33.3% |
20 237 464 192 32 |
30.0% 31.7% 32.5% 44.8% 62.5% |
|
BY LANES One Lane Two Lanes Three Lanes Four Lanes
|
217 282 227 82 |
31.3% 36.5% 41.0% 43.9% |
47 54 30 6 |
38.3% 16.7% 23.3% 66.7% |
264 336 257 88 |
32.6% 33.3% 38.9% 45.5% |
|
BY WEEK Weekday Weekend
|
315 493 |
41.0% 34.7% |
32 105 |
21.9% 29.5% |
347 598 |
39.2% 33.8% |
(2) MOPEDS
This is the third UH study that captures helmet use among the moped population in Hawaii. The 1998 use rate for mopeds was 9.9%. Historically, moped riders have the lowest helmet use rate among the three vehicle types observed. Figure 4 illustrates current helmet use by moped riders on Oahu and the neighbor islands. At 10.3%, Oahu has a greater rate of helmet use than the neighbor islands (7.3%). In the 1998 survey, a total of 322 people were observed on mopeds. Because of the relatively low number of observations, with 95% confidence, the margin of error is +8.4% for statewide moped totals. Figure 4 below illustrates these trends.
FIGURE 4
MOPED HELMET USE, 1995-1998
A description of moped helmet use by individual and grouped islands is given in Table 3. A wide variation in overall helmet use rates exists between Oahu and the neighbor islands.
TABLE 3
MOPED HELMET USE BY ISLANDS, 1998
|
FACTORS |
DRIVERS
|
PASSENGERS |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Total Observed
|
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Overall Helmeted
|
|||
|
BY ISLAND
Oahu Maui Hawaii
|
277 6 27 8 |
10.5% 16.7% 0.0% 25.0% |
4 0 0 0
|
0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% |
281 6 27 8 |
10.3% 16.7% 0.0% 25.5% |
|||
|
Neighbor Islands State
|
41 318 |
7.3% 10.1% |
0 4 |
0.0% 0.0% |
41 322 |
7.3% 9.9% |
|||
Table 4 provides a summary of other factors affecting helmet use for mopeds, including difference by time periods, weather conditions, vehicular speed, number of lanes, and week. See appendix for complete table.
TABLE 4
MOPED HELMET USE ACCORDING TO VARIOUS FACTORS, 1998
|
FACTORS
|
DRIVERS
|
PASSENGERS |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Total Observed
|
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Overall Helmeted
|
|||
|
BY TIME PERIOD
7:00 AM - 10:59 AM 11:00 AM - 2:59 PM 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM 7:00 PM and later
|
95 128 87 8
|
6.3% 10.9% 12.6% 12.5% |
3 1 0 0 |
0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% |
98 129 87 8 |
6.1% 10.9% 12.6% 12.5% |
|||
|
BY WEATHER
Sunny Partly cloudy Cloudy Night
|
264 34 12 8 |
10.2% 11.7% 0.0% 12.5% |
4 0 0 0 |
0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% |
268 34 12 8 |
10.1% 11.7% 0.0% 12.5% |
|||
|
BY SPEED
Below 25 MPH 25 - 34 MPH 35 - 44 MPH 45 - 54 MPH 55 MPH
|
9 112 193 3 1
|
0.0% 12.5% 8.3% 66.7% 0.0% |
0 0 4 0 0 |
0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% |
9 112 197 3 1 |
0.0% 12.5% 8.1% 66.7% 0.0% |
|||
|
BY LANES One Lane Two Lanes Three Lanes Four Lanes
|
49 145 95 29 |
8.2% 11.7% 10.5% 3.5% |
0 0 1 3
|
0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% |
49 145 96 32 |
8.2% 11.7% 10.4% 3.1% |
|||
|
BY WEEK
Weekday Weekend
|
140 178 |
10.0% 10.1% |
0 4 |
0.0% 0.0% |
140 182 |
10.0% 9.9% |
|||
(3) BICYCLES
This is the second UH study which tracked helmet use among bicyclists in the state. Helmet use among operators and passengers of bicycles has increased substantially to 36.6% from 26% in 1997. In the 1998 survey, a total of 628 people were observed on bicycles. With 95% confidence, the margin of error is +3.8% for the statewide bicycle totals. Figure 5 below depicts these trends.
FIGURE 5
BICYCLE HELMET USE, 1997-1998
The Big Island of Hawaii has the highest helmet use rate in the state at 60.4%. This is probably due to the fact that a large number of athletes were training on bicycles in the Kona area at the time of observations.
TABLE 5
BICYCLE HELMET USE BY ISLANDS, 1998
|
FACTORS |
DRIVERS
|
PASSENGERS |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Total Observed
|
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Overall Helmeted
|
|||
|
BY ISLAND
Oahu Maui Hawaii
|
486 29 51 53 |
37.7% 17.2% 58.8% 13.2% |
6 1 2 0 |
50.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% |
492 50 53 53 |
37.8% 16.7% 60.4% 13.2% |
|||
|
Neighbor Islands State
|
133 619 |
31.5% 36.4% |
3 9 |
66.7% 55.6% |
136 628 |
32.4% 36.6% |
|||
Table 6 provides a summary of factors affecting helmet use for bicyclists, including difference by time periods, weather conditions, vehicular speed, number of lanes, and week..
TABLE 6
BICYCLE HELMET USE ACCORDING TO VARIOUS FACTORS, 1998
|
FACTORS
|
DRIVERS
|
PASSENGERS |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Total Observed
|
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Helmeted |
Total Observed |
Percent Overall Helmeted
|
|||
|
BY TIME PERIOD
7:00 AM - 10:59 AM 11:00 AM - 2:59 PM 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM 7:00 PM and later
|
228 269 108 14 |
50.9% 27.9% 27.8% 28.6% |
3 2 4 0 |
66.7% 50.0% 50.0% 0.0% |
231 271 112 14 |
51.1% 28.0% 28.6% 28.6% |
|||
|
BY WEATHER
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy Night
|
542 54 11 12
|
38.0% 22.2% 27.3% 33.3% |
7 2 0 0
|
57.1% 50.0% 0.0% 0.0% |
549 56 11 12 |
38.3% 23.2% 27.3% 33.3% |
|||
|
BY SPEED
Below 25 MPH 25 - 34 MPH 35 - 44 MPH 45 - 54 MPH 55 or more MPH
|
17 303 277 5 17 |
5.9% 35.6% 34.7% 60.0% 100.0% |
1 4 3 0 1 |
0.0% 50.0% 66.7% 0.0% 100.0% |
18 307 280 5 18 |
5.6% 35.8% 35.0% 60.0% 100.0% |
|||
|
BY LANES One Lane Two Lanes Three Lanes Four Lanes
|
166 285 125 43 |
27.7% 47.0% 28.8% 20.9% |
5 3 1 0 |
80.0% 33.3% 0.0% 0.0% |
171 288 126 43 |
29.2% 46.9% 28.6% 20.9% |
|||
|
BY WEEK
Weekday Weekend
|
203 416 |
23.7% 42.6% |
3 6 |
33.3% 66.7% |
206 422 |
23.8% 42.9% |
|||
V. CONCLUSION
Since the last report in 1997, motorcycle helmet use has stablized in Hawaii at 35.8%. Moped helmet use has increased slightly from 8.4% in 1997 to 9.9% today. Finally, bicycle helmet use has increased substantially to 36.6%.
These findings lead to several recommendations:
(1) A more extensive study of helmet use by location is needed. For instance, why was motorcycle helmet use in rural areas of Oahu higher than the urban core (Figure 3)? Future studies need to explore the relationship between site locations.
(2) More characteristics should be explored, such as ethnicity, gender, age, and other socio-economic factors, associated with helmet use among the motorcycle, moped, and bicycle population.
(3) Motorcycles should be disaggregated by type. They have distinct classes and styles which may be associated with helmet use behaviour. Future studies need to explore the relationship between motorcycle type and helmet use.
APPENDICES
1998 Statewide Motorcycle Helmet Use Rates