Helmet laws: Tasmania

Introduction and scope

The Tasmania helmet law came into effect from 1st January 1991. The law applies to all ages of bicyclists riding on public streets, but not elsewhere.

Compliance and enforcement

Community levels of helmet use whilst cycling are not known.
A study based solely on hospital presentations (Jacobson, Blizzard and Dwyer, 1998) in 1991 and 1992 found the following post-law levels of helmet use:

	0 - 9 years	10 - 14 years	15 years +
On-road	74.0%	75.0%	51.0%
Off-road	28.6%	50.0%	40.0%

The law is strictly enforced in at least some localities.

Effect on casualties

No official assessment has been published. A study (Jacobson, Blizzard and Dwyer, 1998) that looked at post-law injuries only was ambiguous. Among young children (under 9 years) helmet use coincided with a lower risk of head injury. However, the incidence of head injury was identical for helmeted and bareheaded children 10 - 14 years off-road and for older riders on-road.

Effect on cycle use

Not known.

Cost benefit

No analysis.

References

Jacobson, Blizzard and Dwyer, 1998

Jacobson GA, Blizzard L, Dwyer T, 1998. Bicycle injuries: road trauma is not the only concern. Austr NZ J Public Health 1998 Jun;22(4):451-5..

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