BICYCLE HELMET
RESEARCH
FOUNDATION
cyclehelmets.org
Home page
Main topics
News Headlines
Frequently asked Questions
For Policy Makers
Research evidence
Misleading claims
Helmet laws
Analysis
Search Engine
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
UK
USA
Other countries
Full index
Links
BHRF
Policy statement
Minimal impact of helmet laws on head injuries
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, helmet legislation
read more ...
Decline in head injuries not due to helmet laws
Research that has looked at child bicycle-related injury rates (head and other) i
read more ...
Helmet law rejected in Alberta
Opponents of a contentious new bike bylaw got their wish in September when the ci
read more ...
The Alberta helmet law came into effect from 1st May 2002. It applies to cyclists under 18 years of age and includes passengers and toddlers on tricycles.
Not known.
In the three years prior to the law, % head injuries were relatively constant at just above 5%. In the six months following the law, % head injuries increased to above 10% for children and just under 10% for all age groups. (BHRF, 1055) (based on data from 9 health regions)
The number of children treated in emergency rooms for non-head injuries was an average of 1,762 per year in 2003-6 compared with 1,676 in 1999-2002, despite there having been a fall of 56% in children cycling over the period. For teenagers the average number of injuries rose from 870 to 1,101 per year while the amount of cycling went down by 27%. (BHRF, 1250; Karkhaneh, 2011).
Surveys in Edmonton in 2000 (pre-law) and 2004 (post-law) suggest that cycling by children and teenagers has been significantly reduced compared with adults (59% children, 41% teenagers) (Hagel et al, 2006).
Later surveys across several Albertan cities showed that child cycling had gone down by 56% and teenage cycling by 27% (BHRF, 1250; Karkhaneh, 2011).
No data available.
Head injuries up after Alberta law?. .
Alberta's helmet law – children's cycling halved, injuries increased per cyclist. .
Hagel BE, Rizkallah JW, Lamy A, Belton KL, Jhangri GS, Cherry N, Rowe BH, 2006. Bicycle helmet prevalence two years after the introduction of mandatory use legislation for under 18s in Alberta, Canada. Injury Prevention 2006;12:262-265.
Karkhaneh M, 2011. Bicycle helmet use and bicyclists head injuries before and after helmet legislation in Alberta Canada. University of Alberta . 