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. 2007 Jun;13(3):173-7.
doi: 10.1136/ip.2006.014142.

Testing the risk compensation hypothesis for safety helmets in alpine skiing and snowboarding

Michael D Scott  1 , David B Buller, Peter A Andersen, Barbara J Walkosz, Jennifer H Voeks, Mark B Dignan, Gary R Cutter
Affiliations

Testing the risk compensation hypothesis for safety helmets in alpine skiing and snowboarding

Michael D Scott et al. Inj Prev. 2007 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: The prevalence of helmet use by alpine skiers and snowboarders was estimated and self-reports on risk taking were assessed to test for potential risk compensation when using helmets in these sports.

Setting: Skiers and snowboarders were observed and interviewed at 34 resorts in the western United States and Canada.

Subjects: Respondents were 1779 adult skiers and snowboarders in the 2003 ski season.

Outcome measures: Observations of helmet use and questions about perceived speed and degree of challenge when not wearing a helmet (helmet wearers) or in previous ski seasons (non-helmet wearers).

Results: Helmet wearers reported that they skied/snowboarded at slower speeds (OR = 0.64, p<0.05) and challenged themselves less (OR = 0.76, p<0.05) than non-helmet wearers. Adoption of safety helmets in 2003 (23%) continued to increase over 2002 (OR = 0.46, p<0.05) and 2001 (OR = 0.84, p<0.05).

Conclusions: No evidence of risk compensation among helmet wearers was found. Decisions to wear helmets may be part of a risk reduction orientation. Helmet use continues to trend upwards but adoption may be slowing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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