RESULTS OF
THE 1999 HAWAII HELMET USE SURVEY
Report to Motor Vehicle Safety Office
Department of Transportation
State of Hawaii
Karl Kim, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator)
Dial Keju (Research Assistant)
Department of Urban and Regional Planning · University of Hawaii at Manoa
E-mail: karlk@hawaii.edu
Website: www.durp.hawaii.edu
Phone: 808-956-7381
Fax: 808-956-6870
I. INTRODUCTION
This report contains the results of the 1999 Hawaii statewide helmet use study. Currently, Hawaii has no law requiring helmet use for either operators or passengers of motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles. Data were collected statewide and analyzed by the University of Hawaii’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP). Field surveys were conducted at 130 sites on teh islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai during January of 1999. The methodology and selection criteria were based on studies conducted from 1985 through 1998. The 1999 survey includes total observations of helmet use among 827 motorcyclists, 229 mopeds, and 295 bicyclists.
II. SUMMARY
At 44.5%, the 1999 helmet use rate for motorcyclists was the highest observed over the seven year period between 1992 and 1999. Helmet use for moped riders slightly increased from 9.9% to 10.9%. The bicyclist helmet use rate, however, declined form 35.8% in 1998 to 18.9%. Figure 1 shows these trends.
FIGURE 1
OVERALL HELMET USE BY YEAR ACCORDING TO VEHICLE TYPE, 1992-1999
III. METHODOLOGY
A total of 130 observation sites were selected (66 sites on Oahu, 23 on Maui, 21 on Hawaii, and 20 on Kauai). A two-person observation team spent 40 minutes recording helmet use during daylight hours at each site. While one person observed helmet use, while the other person recorded the data on the appropriate forms. The data were entered into a database and analyzed at DURP using SAS, a statistical software package.
IV. FINDINGS
The analysis of the entire helmet use survey is divided into three different results for each of the following vehicle type:
(1) Motorcycles;
(2) Mopeds;
(3) Bicycles.
(1) MOTORCYCLES
The helmet use rate for motorcyclists has increased since 1998. Figure 2 shows that the state wide use rate for both operators and passengers on motorcycles has increased substantially from 35.8% to 44.5%. Oahu’s use rate (48.5%) was considerably higher than the neighbor islands (29.1%). These results are consistent with the previous surveys. Within a 95% confidence interval, the marginal error of the estimated motorcycle population is ±1.7%.
FIGURE 2
MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE BY YEAR ACCORDING TO LOCATION, 1992-1999
Table 1 shows the difference in motorcycle helmet use on the four major island: Oahu (48.6%), Hawaii (41.2%), Kauai (36.4%), and Maui (25.2%). The greatest difference between operator and passenger helmet was found on Oahu, where approximately 49.7% of operators and 35.9% of passengers used hemets. On Hawaii, 40.6% of operators and 50.0% of passengers were helmeted. On Maui, 25.5% of operators and 23.8% of passengers used helmets.
TABLE 1
MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE BY ISLANDS, 1999
| FACTORS | OPERATORS | PASSENGERS | TOTAL |
| | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent Overall
Helmeted |
| Island |
| Oahu | 602 | 49.7% | 53 | 35.9% | 655 | 48.6% |
| Maui | 106 | 25.2% | 21 | 23.8% | 127 | 25.2% |
| Hawaii | 32 | 40.6% | 2 | 50.0% | 34 | 41.2% |
| Kauai | 8 | 50.0% | 3 | 0.0% | 11 | 36.4% |
| Neighbor Islands | 146 | 30.1% | 26 | 23.1% | 172 | 29.1% |
| State | 748 | 45.9% | 79 | 31.7% | 827 | 44.5% |
Figure 3 shows the difference in helmet use between each district on Oahu. Since 1998, the Wahiawa (57.1%) district saw an increase in the helmet use rate followed by Honolulu (49.7%), Koolaupoko (41.6%), and Waialua (33.3%). Use rates in Waianae (30.8%) and Koolauloa (28.6%) districts experienced a slight decline while the Ewa use rate declined by only one tenth of a percent (57.3%).
FIGURE 3
MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE BY DISTRICTS ON OAHU, 1998 AND 1999
Table 2 provides a breakdown of helmet use among motorcyclists according to the time of day, vehicular volume, weather conditions, vehicular speed, number of lanes, and day of the week. See Appendix 1 for a complete table.
TABLE 2
MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE ACCORDING TO VARIOUS FACTORS, 1999
| FACTORS | OPERATOR | PASSENGER | TOTAL |
| | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent Overall
Helmeted |
| TIME PERIOD |
| 7:00 AM - 10:59 AM | 201 | 44.3% | 20 | 30.0% | 221 | 43.0% |
| 11:00 AM - 2:59 PM | 360 | 44.2% | 44 | 36.4% | 404 | 43.3% |
| 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM | 187 | 50.8% | 15 | 20.0% | 202 | 48.5% |
| VOLUME |
| Low Volume | 12 | 58.3% | - | - | 21 | 41.7% |
| High Volume | 736 | 41.7% | 79 | 31.7% | 815 | 44.5% |
| WEATHER |
| Clear | 521 | 46.3% | 61 | 29.5% | 582 | 44.5% |
| Cloudy | 216 | 45.8% | 18 | 38.9% | 234 | 45.3% |
| Raining | 11 | 27.3% | - | 0.0% | 11 | 27.3% |
| SPEED |
| Below 25 MPH | 11 | 45.5% | - | 0.0% | 11 | 45.5% |
| 25 - 34 MPH | 128 | 37.5% | 13 | 15.4% | 141 | 35.5% |
| 35 - 44 MPH | 244 | 42.6% | 28 | 28.6% | 272 | 41.2% |
| 45 - 54 MPH | 238 | 47.1% | 28 | 31.0% | 267 | 45.3% |
| 55 or more MPH | 127 | 58.3% | 9 | 66.7% | 136 | 58.8% |
| LANES |
| One Lane | 132 | 25.8% | 29 | 20.7% | 161 | 24.8% |
| Two Lanes | 215 | 42.3% | 22 | 40.9% | 237 | 42.2% |
| Three Lanes | 346 | 53.2% | 24 | 29.2% | 370 | 51.6% |
| Four Lanes | 55 | 61.8% | 4 | 75.0% | 59 | 62.7% |
| WEEK |
| Weekday | 465 | 53.1% | 27 | 33.3% | 492 | 52.0% |
| Weekend | 283 | 33.9% | 52 | 30.8% | 335 | 33.4% |
(2) MOPEDS
The helmet use rate among Oahu’s moped riders increased slightly from 10.3%(1998) to 11.7%(1999), while the use rate on the neighbor islands declined form 4.3% to 4%. The statewide helmet use rate has increased slightly from 9.9%(1998) to 10.9%(1999). Within a 95% confidence interval, the marginal error of the estimate for all moped riders observed is ±4.0%. Figure 4 below shows the use rate trends.
FIGURE 4
MOPED HELMET USE, 1995 - 1999
Table 3 characterizes helmet use among moped riders by individual and grouped islands. As illustrated, moped users tend to be concentrated on Oahu with relatively few on neighbor islands. This is shown in the variation of overall helmet use rates between Oahu and the neighbor islands.
TABLE 3
MOPED HELMET USE BY ISLANDS, 1999
| FACTORS | OPERATORS | PASSENGERS | TOTAL |
| | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent Overall
Helmeted |
| Island |
| Oahu | 203 | 11.8% | 1 | 0.0% | 204 | 11.8% |
| Maui | 8 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 8 | 0.0% |
| Hawaii | 15 | 6.67% | 1 | 0.0% | 16 | 6.3% |
| Kauai | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% |
| Neighbor Islands | 24 | 4.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 25 | 4.0% |
| State | 227 | 11.0% | 2 | 0.0% | 229 | 10.9% |
Table 4 examines various factors that influence moped helmet use in Hawaii. These factors include helmet use rate by time period, vehicular volume, weather conditions, vehicular speed, number of lanes, and day of the week. See Appendix 2 for a complete table.
TABLE 4
MOPED HELMET USE ACCORDING TO VARIOUS FACTORS, 1999
| FACTORS | OPERATOR | PASSENGER | TOTAL |
| | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent Overall
Helmeted |
| TIME PERIOD |
| 7:00 AM - 10:59 AM | 38 | 13.2% | - | 0.0% | 38 | 13.2% |
| 11:00 AM - 2:59 PM | 103 | 15.5% | - | 0.0% | 103 | 15.5% |
| 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM | 86 | 4.7% | 2 | 0.0% | 86 | 4.6% |
| VOLUME |
| Low Volume | 18 | 5.6% | - | 0.0% | 18 | 5.6% |
| High Volume | 209 | 11.5% | - | 0.0% | 209 | 11.5% |
| WEATHER |
| Clear | 132 | 15.2% | 1 | 0.0% | 133 | 15.0% |
| Cloudy | 89 | 5.6% | - | 0.0% | 90 | 5.6% |
| Rainy | 6 | 0.0% | - | 0.0% | 6 | 0.0% |
| SPEED |
| Below 25 MPH | 7 | 0.0% | - | 0.0% | 7 | 0.0% |
| 25 - 34 MPH | 121 | 5.0% | - | 0.0% | 121 | 5.0% |
| 35 - 44 MPH | 94 | 16.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 95 | 15.8% |
| 45 - 54 MPH | 4 | 75.0% | - | 0.0% | 4 | 75.0% |
| 55 or more MPH | 1 | 100.0% | - | 0.0% | 1 | 100.0% |
| LANES |
| One Lane | 29 | 6.9% | 1 | 0.0% | 30 | 6.7% |
| Two Lanes | 58 | 8.6% | - | 0.0% | 58 | 8.6% |
| Three Lanes | 139 | 12.2% | 1 | 0.0% | 140 | 12.1% |
| Four Lanes | 1 | 100.0% | - | 0.0% | 1 | 100.0% |
| WEEK |
| Weekday | 189 | 12.2% | 2 | 0.0% | 191 | 12.0% |
| Weekend | 36 | 5.3% | - | 0.0% | 38 | 5.3% |
(3) BICYCLES
In the third year of bicycle observations, we found that the helmet use rate among bicyclists have dropped significantly. Figure 5 shows that since 1998, statewide helmet use among bicyclists has declined form 36.6% to 19.0%. The largest decline in helmet use occurred on Oahu where only 17% of bicyclists wore helmets compared to 37.8% in 1998. Within a 95% confidence interval, the marginal error of the estimate is ±4.5%. Figure 5 illustrates these trends.
FIGURE 5
BICYCLE HELMET USE, 1997 - 1999
Consistent with the 1998 survey, the helmet use rate on the Big Island (29.4%) surpasses all other islands. One possible explanation for this higher helmet use rate could be that the long stretches of rural highways on the Big Island use rate is much lower than the last year (60.4%), differences in sample size between last year (628 observations) and the current year (295 observations) may explain part of this change.
Table 5 presents a variation in helmet use among bicyclists. Both Kauai (14.8%) and Oahu (17.0%) showed the lowest helmet use rates. A complete table is provided in Appendix 3 of this report.
TABLE 5
BICYCLE HELMET USE BY ISLANDS, 1999
| FACTORS | OPERATORS | PASSENGERS | TOTAL |
| | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent Overall
Helmeted |
| Island |
| Oahu | 184 | 16.9% | 4 | 25.0% | 188 | 17.0% |
| Maui | 62 | 24.2% | 1 | 0.0% | 63 | 23.8% |
| Hawaii | 17 | 29.4% | - | 0.0% | 17 | 29.4% |
| Kauai | 27 | 14.8% | - | 0.0% | 27 | 14.8% |
| Neighbor Islands | 106 | 22.6% | 1 | 0.0% | 107 | 22.4% |
| State | 290 | 19.0% | 5 | 20.0% | 295 | 19.0% |
Table 6 summarizes factors which influence helmet use among bicyclists, including difference by time period, vehicular volume, weather conditions, vehicular speed, number of lanes, and day of the week.
TABLE 6
BICYCLE HELMET USE ACCORDING TO VARIOUS FACTORS, 1999
| FACTORS | OPERATOR | PASSENGER | TOTAL |
| | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent
Helmeted | Total
Observed | Percent Overall
Helmeted |
| TIME PERIOD |
| 7:00 AM - 10:59 AM | 76 | 21.1% | - | 0.0% | 76 | 21.1% |
| 11:00 AM - 2:59 PM | 135 | 16.3% | 2 | 50.0% | 137 | 16.8% |
| 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM | 79 | 21.5% | 3 | 0.0% | 82 | 20.7% |
| VOLUME |
| Low Volume | 31 | 3.2% | 1 | 0.0% | 32 | 3.1% |
| High Volume | 260 | 20.8% | 4 | 25.0% | 264 | 20.8% |
| WEATHER |
| Clear | 194 | 23.2% | 2 | 50.0% | 196 | 23.5% |
| Cloudy | 80 | 8.8% | 3 | 0.0% | 83 | 8.4% |
| Rainy | 16 | 18.8% | - | 0.0% | 16 | 18.8% |
| SPEED |
| Below 25 MPH | 14 | 21.4% | 1 | 0.0% | 15 | 20.0% |
| 25 - 34 MPH | 146 | 11.0% | - | 0.0% | 146 | 11.0% |
| 35 - 44 MPH | 111 | 19.8% | 4 | 25.0% | 115 | 20.0% |
| 45 - 54 MPH | 19 | 73.7% | - | 0.0% | 19 | 73.7% |
| 55 or more MPH | - | 0.0% | - | 0.0% | - | 0.0% |
| LANES |
| One Lane | 96 | 12.2% | 2 | 0.0% | 100 | 12.0% |
| Two Lanes | 119 | 19.3% | 2 | 0.0% | 121 | 19.0% |
| Three Lanes | 72 | 26.4% | 1 | 100.0% | 73 | 27.4% |
| Four Lanes | 1 | 100.0% | - | 0.0% | 1 | 100.0% |
| WEEK |
| Weekday | 197 | 17.8% | 5 | 20.0% | 202 | 17.8% |
| Weekend | 93 | 21.5% | - | 0.0% | 93 | 21.5% |
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The 1999 helmet use study reveals differences in use rate between vehicle types. While the use rates for both motorcycle and moped populations have increased, bicycle helmet use rate has experienced a large drop. Hence, the current findings in the 1999 helmet use study lead to several important recommendations
(1) We need to further explore reasons why helmet use among motorcyclists have increased over the period.
(2) We need to investigate why bicycling helmet use are decreased.
(3) We need to further explore the relationship between helmet use rate and ride and racer characteristics(such as, age, gender, socioeconomic status)
APPENDIX
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3