New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Benefit of cycle helmet laws to reduce head injuries still uncertain

Date:
May 14, 2013
Source:
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Summary:
The benefit of helmet legislation to reduce admissions to hospital for head injuries is "substantially uncertain," concludes a new study.
Share:
FULL STORY

he benefit of helmet legislation to reduce admissions to hospital for head injuries is "substantially uncertain," concludes a new study.

The authors say that, while helmets reduce head injuries and their use should be encouraged, in the context of existing safety campaigns, the impact of legislation seems to be minimal.

Cyclists are vulnerable road users and head injuries among cyclists account for 75% of cycling related deaths. But debate exists about whether or not helmet legislation is an effective strategy to reduce serious head injuries among cyclists of all ages.

So a team of researchers based in Canada examined changes in the rate of cycling related head injuries associated with helmet legislation in young people and adults, while accounting for baseline trends in the rate of cycling injuries.

Between 1994 and 2008, there were 66,716 hospital admissions for cycling related injuries, 30% of which were head injuries.

During this time, there was a substantial and consistent fall in the rate of hospital admissions for cycling related head injuries across Canada.

Reductions were greatest in provinces with helmet legislation. However, the researchers point out that admission rates were falling before the implementation of provincial helmet legislation and, after taking baseline trends into account, did not seem to change in response to legislation.

"When baseline trends in cycling related injury rates were considered, the overall rates of head injuries were not appreciably altered by helmet legislation," they say.

They conclude: "While helmets reduce the risk of head injuries and we encourage their use, in the Canadian context of existing safety campaigns, improvements to the cycling infrastructure, and the passive uptake of helmets, the incremental contribution of provincial helmet legislation to reduce hospital admissions for head injuries seems to have been minimal."


Story Source:

Materials provided by BMJ-British Medical Journal. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. J. Dennis, T. Ramsay, A. F. Turgeon, R. Zarychanski. Helmet legislation and admissions to hospital for cycling related head injuries in Canadian provinces and territories: interrupted time series analysis. BMJ, 2013; 346 (may14 1): f2674 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.f2674

Cite This Page:

BMJ-British Medical Journal. "Benefit of cycle helmet laws to reduce head injuries still uncertain." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 May 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130514213148.htm>.
BMJ-British Medical Journal. (2013, May 14). Benefit of cycle helmet laws to reduce head injuries still uncertain. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130514213148.htm
BMJ-British Medical Journal. "Benefit of cycle helmet laws to reduce head injuries still uncertain." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130514213148.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES