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Pros and cons regarding bicycle helmet legislation

Introduction | Crash characteristics where and how | Measures to reduce crash numbers and injury severity | Pedestrians and cyclists unprotected road users | Promote cycling and bicycle helmets or not | References | Special regulations for pedestrians and cyclists
Pros and cons regarding bicycle helmet legislation

    * Promote cycling and bicycle helmets or not?
    * Promoting cycling: changes to expect

 

 

Pros and cons regarding bicycle helmet legislation



Although bicycle speed is rather limited, it is acknowledged that a properly designed helmet provides very good protection for the most vulnerable part of the body, the head, from being severely injured in a crash. Whereas the helmet is more or less compulsory in all countries for participants in sporting events, in most countries it is still optional for cycle touring or bicycle rides in general (see Bicycle helmet legislation for exceptions). Some cyclists are against the helmet as it imposes a requirement conflicting with the feeling of freedom given by the bicycle or because it is unsightly, uncomfortable, or unnecessary over short distances. Others are firmly in favour of it as it provides good head protection [16].



In 2000, helmets were worn on a voluntary basis by 15% of cyclists in Finland, 16% in the United Kingdom, 17% in Sweden, 7% in Switzerland and 6% in Norway. In Denmark, 68% of children, who are passengers on bicycles (children between 0 and 5 years old), were using helmets. 34% of the children between 6 and 9 years old use helmets on their bicycles. Only 5% of cyclists aged between 10 and 25 year old used a helmet, and among cyclists aged 25 years and older only 3% used a helmet. The proportion is insignificant in most other countries [16].

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