Bicycle helmets in New Zealand

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Bicycle helmets have been compulsory by law in New Zealand since January 1, 1994 but there has been ongoing debate about its effectiveness for injury prevention.

Any person that uses the road on a bicycle or bicycle trailer must wear a securely fastened approved bicycle helmet. Exemptions are available on the grounds of religious belief or physical disability.[1] As of 2005, on average, out of a survey of 5700 cyclists at 58 sites around New Zealand, 91% of the cyclists wore helmets.[2]

[edit] History

Rebecca Oaten, dubbed the "helmet lady" in the media, started a campaign in the late 1980's advocating for compulsory helmets after her son was permanently brain damaged after a vehicle knocked him off his bike. Her campaigning was largely responsible for the law requiring bicycle helmets to be worn.[3] In the late 1980's and early 1990's Oaten travelled the country to promote the use of cycle helmets, often visiting schools to talk to students.

[edit] Research

Figure 1. Adult cyclist head injuries versus helmet use following crashes in involving motor vehicles in New Zealand
Figure 1. Adult cyclist head injuries versus helmet use following crashes in involving motor vehicles in New Zealand[4]

A 1998 study by the Ministry of Transport concluded that bicycle helmets reduced overall head injuries by nearly 30%. The study used a model that equated hospitalised limb fractures to the exposure of a cyclist to level of risk of accident. Limb fractures was assumed to be proportional to the chance of head injury. The head injury data is shown in Figure 1. A "diminishing returns" relationship was suggested from the model where there was a better chance of protection from injury by those who were early adopters of bicycle helmets. The results from this study was refuted since the it was claimed that the apparent effect was due to not taking time trends into account in the model used. [4] Even though there was a large increase in helmet usage there was no accompanying decrease in head injuries.

A study on bicycle helmets using cost-benefit analysis found that the law was only cost-effective for the 5-12 year old age group.[5] A Massey University study in 2006 found that compulsory bicycle helmet laws led to a lower uptake of cycling.

The Cycling Advocates' Network, a nationwide cycling lobby group, has a preference for encouragement rather than enforcement of bicycle helmet use.[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 (SR 2004/427). New Zealand Government (2004). Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  2. ^ Cycle helmet use: Results of national survey, March/April 2005 Ministry of Transport (New Zealand)
  3. ^ Kennett, Jonathan (2004). Ride: The Story of Cycling in New Zealand, 216. ISBN 095834907X. 
  4. ^ a b Robinson, D.L. (2001). "Changes in head injury with the New Zealand bicycle helmet law". Accident Analysis and Prevention 33: 687–697. doi:10.1016/S0001-4575(00)00073-7. 
  5. ^ Taylor, M; P Scuffham (2002). "New Zealand bicycle helmet law—do the costs outweigh the benefits?". Injury Prevention 8: 317–320. 
  6. ^ Wilke, Axel (May 2005). Submission on Pedestrian and Cyclist Road Safety Framework (pdf). Cycling Advocates' Network. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.

[edit] External links