The children’s bike helmets debate
Whilst the debate around children wearing cycling helmets continues worldwide it looks like the UK government is currently looking at the issue. Indeed, Ministers have commissioned a major scientific study as part of a wider report into cycling safety, into the effectiveness of helmets with a view to considering a change in the law at the end 2009.
Arguments in favour are around safety and reducing head injuries accidents.
Three UK surveys conducted between 1994 and 2001 have showed the following:
-On average, 28 children and 123 adults cyclists were killed in Great Britain in 1998, and in 99 and in 2000.
-Males are four times as likely to be killed or injured as females
-Most bicycle injuries occur in teenage children or young adults.
-Head and face injuries make up a significant proportion of all bicycle injuries (Primary diagnosis in 34 per cent of emergency hospital admissions due to cycling between 1991/95.Over half of which were among children aged under 16 years)
For more information on this follow.
Arguments against are that it will put children off cycling if they have to wear a helmet. For example some people claim that Australia’s cycle helmet laws are the principal reasons for the dramatic falls in cycling since the early 1990s. Figures of close to 30 % drop in cycling in Australia, almost overnight, are being put forward here.
The British survey also talks about great decline in the distance cycled between 1985 and 1992 but the compulsory wear of helmets is not relevant so there are many other factors to consider in all this like the change of travel habits, busier roads…
You may feel that health and safety goes overboard at times in the UK, but getting your child to wear a helmet is, to me like many other things when it comes to children: it is a question of habit and setting them the right example buy wearing one yourself.
