Assessment of the Effectiveness of Safety Measures-Conclusions Drawn from the Munich Area Seat Belt and Motorcycle Studies

The accident data collection and the analysis methodologies applied in the Munich Area Seat Belt and Motorcycle Studies are reported.

The effectiveness of injury reduction due to the use of seat belts and safety helmets is determined in correlation with the actual accident scene, the official accident statistics to transpone the results to the whole of the Federal Republic of Germany, and, in particular, with the total number of protected persons involved in accidents which would lead to non-minor injuries of non-protected occupants and motorcyclists, resp.

Factors of influence on the effectiveness, such as accident type, accident locality and helmet loss, are discussed.