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Call for mandatory cycle helmets
The law should be changed so all cyclists have to wear
helmets, UK researchers say. Edinburgh University experts
argue that advertising campaigns promoting cycle helmets are
not working. They say that, ideally, both adults and
children should be made to wear helmets when cycling. At the
very least, under 16s should have to wear helmets, they say
in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. Edinburgh
University's Professor Sheikh, along with colleagues from
the Health Commission and Imperial College London, looked at
the arguments for and against helmet legislation.
They found the evidence for the effectiveness of cycle
helmets was strong. Evidence shows helmets offer substantial
protection against head injury and there is a strong
association between increasing helmet use and declining
injury rates. "The consensus is that they reduce anything up
to 88% of serious head injuries if they are used," said
Professor Sheikh, from the Division of Community Health
Sciences. "In an ideal world I would like to see a massive
uptake of cycle helmets among children and adults in Britain
voluntarily but we know that voluntary measures have had
little impact," he said. Only one in five regular cyclists
uses a helmet, he said. Ethical debate Opponents argue that
making helmets mandatory for cyclists removes individual
choice, infringing on civil liberties. They also worry that
cyclists will be so put off they will stop using this
healthy mode of transport. But Professor Sheikh's team argue
that there are good grounds for compulsory cycle helmets.
Bicycle helmet laws in other countries, such as Australia
and New Zealand, have reduced cycling-related head injuries
and fatalities with good uptake, they say. Also, any
decline in popularity of cycling after legislation tends to
be short term. "There may be a temporary knock-on effect in
Britain but in the long term I don't think it will have any
sustainable impact, just like motorcycle helmets," said
Professor Sheikh. He believes most people would accept the
legislation. "A lot of people will see it as being a
sensible move, similar to motorcycle helmet and seatbelt
laws, but some will construe it as a constriction of their
personal choice. "On balance, we do think the legislation
should be pushed forward," he said. One rule for all A
Protective Headgear for Young Cyclists Bill was introduced
to parliament this year. This would make it mandatory for
all children under the age of 16 to wear helmets when
cycling. The bill is due for a second reading in the House
of Commons on 18 June. Professor Sheikh said this was a
step in the right direction, but not enough. "Really it
should be introduced across the board, otherwise we are
sending out quite mixed signals," he said. A spokesman for
the Department for Transport said public support was needed
before such a law could be passed. "At the moment, the
wearing rates are relatively low. In order to make
something mandatory, you need to have a certain level of
compliance. "We are keen to see as many people as possible
wearing helmets. We encourage people to wear cycle helmets.
But what we do not want to see is people discouraged from
cycling because they do not want to wear one. "There's a
perception by some people it's not cool. We need to get
over that," he said.