Injury profile of pedal and motor cyclist casualties in Victoria.

The injury profiles of 512 pedal and 667 motor cyclist casualties managed during 1977-80 at four Melbourne teaching hospitals have been analysed using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (1980 revision). Additional comparison has been made between cyclist casualties involved in collisions with another vehicle, in single vehicle accidents and between casualties aged 17 years or more. Pedal cyclist casualties sustained significantly more frequent and severe head injury although the maximum level of injury to any part of the body (maximum abbreviated injury score) was, with the exception of casualties involved in single vehicle accidents, significantly greater in motor cyclist casualties. Head injury occurred in 59% of pedal and 26% of motor cyclist casualties (P less than 0.001); severe head injuries occurred in 9% and 4%, correspondingly. These differences may be explained, at least in part, by the fact that virtually all motor cyclists were protected by safety helmets whereas few pedal cyclists were similarly protected. The following countermeasures are recommended: effective promotion of approved safety helmet wearing in all schools; bulk purchase of helmets through the Ministry of Education for low cost distribution; a Government subsidy to reduce the costs of helmet purchase; legislation for compulsory wearing of approved safety helmets by pedal cyclists.