Key facts about the experiences of helmet promotion
- Helmet promotion is strongly linked to a decrease in cycle
use.
[1] In part this is probably because it portrays cycling as an
inherently hazardous activity.
- Helmet laws in Australia resulted in a decrease in the number
of cyclists 2 or 3 times greater than the increase in the number of cyclists
wearing helmets because of the laws. [2]
- In Britain, the fall in cycle use since 1990 has been almost
twice the increase in helmet use. [3]
- Countries that engaged in prominent helmet promotion (e.g.
Australia, NZ, UK, USA) experienced large falls in cycle use during the 1990s.
In countries that did not (e.g. Denmark, France, Netherlands), cycling levels
were sustained.
[4]
References:
[1] Bryan-Brown K, Taylor S. Cycle helmet wearing in 1996. TRL, report 286.
Also: Achieving the aims of the National Cycling
Strategy. TRL, report 365.
See also:
Helmet wearing and cycle use in Great Britain.
[2] Robinson DL, The efficacy of bicycle helmet laws.
1996.
[3] Derived from Department for Transport traffic census
data and
Bryan-Brown K, Christie N. Cycle helmet wearing in 1999. TRL, report 487.
[4] Prognos study.
