COST AND LIVES SAVINGS ANALYSIS IF THE PASSENGER HELMET LAW IS PASSED AND ENFORCED IN 2014

1. COST AND LIVES SAVINGS ANALYSIS IF
THE PASSENGER HELMET LAW IS PASSED
AND ENFORCED IN 2014

2. CONTENTS
Purpose of analysis
Research and timeframe
Methodology
Findings
Public Support
Recommendations

3. PURPOSE OF ANALYSIS
To research estimates of
the costs and lives saved
by 2020 if the passenger
helmet law is passed and
enforced in 2014.

4. RESEARCH AND TIMEFRAME
• Researcher: Asia Injury Prevention Foundation
The model was adapted from those used in
public health by the U.S CDC
• Timeframe: Four months

5. METHODOLOGY
Source of data and references
• Cambodia National Road Safety Action Plan for 2011 – 2020
• RCVIS report, Annual Reports from 2008-2012: Road crashes and
casualties in Cambodia.
• Liu et al., “Helmets for Preventing Injury in Motorcycle Riders”
• World Health Organization, Global Status Report on Road Safety
2013
• 2013 bi-monthly helmet observation,Handicap International
• Analysis of Costs of Road Crashes report in Cambodia by ADB and
updated in 2011 by Handicap International
• Consumer Price Index Data, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2014

6. METHODOLOGY (cont.)
The cost savings were calculated based on the figures
from Asia Development Bank (ADB) and updated in 2011 by
Handicap International.
Model for calculating number of head injuries prevented:
y2 = (f) x (g x h x j x e)
Model for calculating number of lives saved:
y1=(f) x (a x b x c x d x e)

7. METHODOLOGY (cont.)
a = Projected number of RTFs. Values of “a” were calculated by the
Institute of Road Safety Research (SWOV), The Netherlands, and used for
developing the Cambodia National Road Safety Action Plan 2011-2020
Model for calculating number of lives saved:
y1=(f) x (a x b x c x d x e)

8. f = % of all motorcycle crash-related fatalities that are
passengers
b = % of road traffic fatalities that are motorcyclists
c = % of motorcycle fatality crashes that result in head injuries
Values of f, b, c obtained from the average figures of RCVIS
reports from 2008 to 2012
METHODOLOGY (cont.)
Model for calculating number of lives saved:
y1=(f) x (a x b x c x d x e)

9. d = % reduction in likelihood of death by effect of wearing
motorcycle helmet. Value of “d” obtained from the
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. d = 42%
e = projected % increase in passenger helmet use
METHODOLOGY (cont.)
Model for calculating number of lives saved:
y1=(f) x (a x b x c x d x e)

10. METHODOLOGY (cont.)
Model for calculating number of head injuries prevented:
y2 = (f) x (g x h x j x e)
f = % of all motorcycle crash-related fatalities that are passengers
g = 20 x (a x b) : Estimated number of non-fatal motorcycle-related
traffic injuries (according WHO Global Status Report on Road
Safety 2013, the fatality to injury ratio is 1 to 20)

11. Model for calculating N. of head injuries prevented:
y2 = (f) x (g x h x j x e)
h = % of non-fatal motorcycle crash-related injuries that are
head injuries. Values of h obtained from the average figures
of RCVIS reports from 2008 to 2012
j = % by which motorcycle helmets have been shown to reduce
the risk of head injury. Value of j obtained from the Cochrane
Database of Systematic Reviews. j = 69%
e = Projected % increase in passenger helmet use
METHODOLOGY (cont.)

12. METHODOLOGY (cont.)
Calculation took into
consideration:
• Property damage,
administration costs,
• Lost output, medical
and human costs
The cost savings were calculated based on the
figures from Asia Development Bank (ADB) and updated in
2011 by Handicap International.

13. FINDINGS
If the passenger helmet law is
passed in 2014 and effectively
enforced:
• 561 lives will be saved;
• 10,574 head injuries
will be prevented; and
• USD 98,618,422 will be
saved by 2020

14. FINDINGS (cont.)
Year
Passeng
-er
helmet
use
Increase
in
passenger
helmet
use
Est,
lives
saved
Est, head
injuries
prevented
Cost ($USD)
savings for
fatalities
Cost ($USD)
savings for
injuries
Total cost
($USD)
savings
2015 55% 48% 61 1,152 2,668,563 8,079,457 10,748,020
2016 60% 53% 72 1,362 3,141,045 9,550,209 12,691,255
2017 65% 58% 85 1,600 3,708,178 11,221,272 14,929,450
2018 70% 63% 99 1,864 4,318,937 13,071,590 17,390,527
2019 75% 68% 114 2,148 4,973,322 15,064,114 20,037,436
2020 80% 73% 130 2,446 5,671,332 17,150,403 22,821,735
Total 561 10,574 24,481,377 74,137,045 98,618,422

15. PUBLIC SUPPORT
 Approximately 98% of survey
respondents and 97% of parents
support a mandatory helmet law for
passengers and children respectively.
 Over 6,000 people have signed petitions
to show their support for a universal
passenger helmet law since January
2013.
 An estimated 10,000 pledges have been
obtained showing support for the swift
enactment of the passenger helmet
law.

16. PUBLIC SUPPORT (cont.)
 Over 100 stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, and
international community have endorsed the joint policy
recommendation.
 Submitted to H.E Minister of Public Works and Transport and a senior
representative from National Police in January 2013. The statement
was later co-issued by Handicap International and Coalition for Road
Safety (CRY).
Joint Statement: Motorcycle Passengers, Including Children,
Must Wear Helmets

17. RECOMMENDATIONS
 For media: Advocate for and mobilize
public support for the enactment of
laws that mandate helmets for
motorcycle passengers, including
children.
 For government: Approve the draft
law and implement further
enforcement and intervention to reach
the national target on helmet use by
2020.
 For civil society organizations:
Intensive advocacy activities for the
passenger helmet law to be passed and
then enforced as soon as possible.

18. RESULT
 New Traffic Law: A new traffic law
mandating helmets for motorcycle
passengers, including children, has
been approved by the national
assembly, signed by the King and
announced in public by the Ministry of
Public Works and Transport.
 National Passenger Helmet
Enforcement Action Plan: AIP
Foundation works closely with the
General Commissariat of the National
Police, Provincial Police to develop the
Passenger Helmet Enforcement Action
Plan for national and district levels.

19. RESULT
 New Sub-degree on Fines: To ensure
the new traffic law enforcement is
implemented smoothly and effectively,
a new sub-degree on fines was
developed by the National Road Safety
Committee and approved by the
Government.
 New Law Enforcement: An official
announcement from the General
Commissariat of the National Police,
with commitment from the
Government started enforcing from
January 2015.

20. THANK YOU
AIP Foundation Cambodia Office
#18BEo, Street 348, Sangkat Toul Svay Prey I, Khan Chamkamorn, Phnom Penh,
Kingdom of Cambodia
Email: pagna.kim@aipf-cambodia.org