Taylor M, Scuffham P
Centre for the Analysis of Safety Prevention and Attitudes to Risk, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
Inj Prev. 2002 Dec;8(4):317-20. doi: 10.1136/ip.8.4.317.
This paper examines the cost effectiveness of the compulsory bicycle helmet wearing law (HWL) introduced in New Zealand on 1 January 1994. The societal perspective of costs is used for the purchase of helmets and the value of injuries averted. This is augmented with healthcare costs averted from reduced head injuries.
Three age groups were examined: cyclists aged 5-12 years, 13-18 years, and >/=19 years. The number of head and non-head injuries averted were obtained from epidemiological studies. Estimates of the numbers of cyclists and the costs of helmets are used to derive the total spending on new bicycle helmets. Healthcare costs were obtained from national hospitalisation database, and the value of injuries averted was obtained directly from a willingness-to-pay survey undertaken by the Land Transport Safety Authority. Cost effectiveness ratios, benefit:cost ratios, and the value of net benefits were estimated.
The net benefit (benefit:cost ratios) of the HWL for the 5-12, 13-18, and >/=19 year age groups was $0.3m (2.6), -$0.2m (0.8), and -$1.5m (0.7) (in NZ $, 2000 prices; NZ $1.00 = US $0.47 = UK pound 0.31 approx). These results were most sensitive to the cost and life of helmets, helmet wearing rates before the HWL, and the effectiveness of helmets in preventing head injuries.
The HWL was cost saving in the youngest age group but large costs from the law were imposed on adult (>/=19 years) cyclists.
本文探讨了1994年1月1日在新西兰实施的强制佩戴自行车头盔法（HWL）的成本效益。从社会角度计算购买头盔的成本以及避免受伤的价值，并补充了因头部受伤减少而避免的医疗费用。
研究了三个年龄组：5至12岁、13至18岁以及≥19岁的自行车骑行者。避免的头部和非头部受伤数量来自流行病学研究。通过骑行者数量估计值和头盔成本来计算新自行车头盔的总支出。医疗费用来自国家住院数据库，避免受伤的价值直接取自陆地运输安全管理局进行的支付意愿调查。估算了成本效益比、效益成本比和净效益价值。
HWL对5至12岁、13至18岁和≥19岁年龄组的净效益（效益成本比）分别为30万新西兰元（2.6）、-20万新西兰元（0.8）和-150万新西兰元（0.7）（以2000年价格计算的新西兰元；1新西兰元约等于0.47美元或0.31英镑）。这些结果对头盔成本和使用寿命、HWL实施前的头盔佩戴率以及头盔预防头部受伤的有效性最为敏感。
HWL在最年轻的年龄组中节省了成本，但该法律给成年（≥19岁）骑行者带来了巨大成本。
