Safety-belt and helmet use among high school students--United States, 1990.

During 1988, injuries were the leading cause of death among persons aged 15-19 years in the United States. More than half (53%) of these deaths were motor-vehicle related, including crashes involving bicycles and motorcycles with motor vehicles (CDC, unpublished data, 1988). Among persons aged 15-19 years, motor-vehicle-related injuries are the leading contributor to hospital and emergency department medical costs associated with injuries (1). This article presents 1990 self-reported data from U.S. students in grades 9-12 regarding the prevalence of three behaviors that reduce the risk for injuries from motor-vehicle crashes-safety-belt use, motorcycle-helmet use, and bicycle-helmet use.