Motorcycle fatalities in South West Cumbria

In the area studied, fatal motorcycle accidents were more often the fault of a motorcyclist than of another road user. Pillion passengers contributed to some accidents, and the law should restrict the consumption of alcohol by pillion riders as well as by motorcycle drivers. Injury to the brain or brain stem was a major cause of death despite crash helmets. Haemorrhage might have been successfully arrested in some patients who survived to reach hospital, though this might not have guaranteed survival. The potential reduction in mortality is discussed in relation to injury severity score. A saving in life is more likely to accrue from preventive means than from improved rescue and treatment facilities.