Introduction

====The leading cause of death amongst motorcycle riders in our society today, is the lack of use of helmets (IIHS). In order to prevent head injuries in the case of an accident, helmets are essential at all times for all riders regardless of their age or experience riding a motorcycle (IIHS). Also, “motorcyclists are more prone to crash injuries than car occupants because motorcycles are unenclosed, leaving riders vulnerable to contact with hard road surfaces” (IIHS). By not wearing a helmet, a motorcycle rider may put their life and others’ lives at risk. Other factors that severely increase the risk of death of motorcycle riders – besides helmets – are driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances. Approximately “49% of motorcycle crash deaths in US police reports were attributable to alcohol use, in contrast to 26% of other motor-vehicle crash deaths” (Mau-Roung 2009). “Drinking motorcycle riders involved in a crash are more likely than nondrinking riders to have lost control of their vehicle, have lower rates of helmet use, [and incur] more-severe head injuries” (Hundley et al. 2004).====