(Source: a leaflet produced by NSW RTA)
(Source: a leaflet produced by NSW RTA)
Bicycle helmet wearing became mandatory on 1 January 1991, for persons 16 years and over, and for everyone on 1 July, 1991. This staggered start was considered as an opportunity for older bicycle riders to provide a role model for the younger riders, and it also allowed bicycle riding families to spread the cost of helmet purchase over six months.
The Staysafe Inquiry into Bicycle Safety (1988)[1] estimated the cost to the NSW community of bicycle accidents to be $100m per annum. Head injury was the most common cause of bicyclist fatalities and serious disability[2]. This same research indicated that wearing bicycle helmets could reduce the risk of head injury by 85% and the risk of brain injury by 88%.
Before compulsory helmet wearing, the observed rate of wearing in 1990[3] was 26% for those 16 years and over (adult) and 11% for riders under 16 years (child). After the introduction of compulsory helmet wearing for all bicycle riders, the wearing rate had risen to 76% and 85% respectively[4]. In 1993[5] the wearing rates observed were 74% and 83%. Figure 1 indicates the wearing rates of bicycle helmets over the four observation surveys conducted inclusively 1990-1993.
Figure 2 indicates that in 1993 child riders have a lower helmet wearing rate than adult cyclists, and Sydney rider helmet wearing rate is lower than the rural rider helmet wearing rate.
NSW data show a strong relationship between reductions in head injury rates and increasing helmet wearing rates. As seen in Figure 3[6], there has been a strong reduction in the percentage of head injuries for riders under 16 years (29%) and for those riders 16 years and over (38%). This is in contrast to other injuries, which have decreased by 11% and 18% respectively. There appears to have been a substantially larger decrease in bicyclist head injuries than other types of injuries in the years following the introduction of compulsory helmet wearing. Increased helmet wearing has had a positive effect on the head injury rate.
Bicyclists sustaining head injuries accounted for 23% of hospital bicycle injury data in 1992/93. This has fallen from 30% in 1989/90. Of these, 63% were under 16 years.
In 1993, the NSW Police Service issued 17,996 infringement notices to bicycle riders. Of these, 79% (14,072) were for not wearing a helmet. The infringements of riding at night without a front light (1271) and tail light (768), and riding on the footpath (769) accounted for another 16% of notices issued.
Most riders are young males. In 1993, 85% of riders observed were male[5]. From a 1994 attitude survey[7] of people 14 years and over, 19% of males rode at least once a week, while only 7% of females indicated the same riding behaviour. Of these male regular riders, 76% were between 14-17 years. Overall, 71% of people indicated they rode less than once a year/never.
In 1992, 50% of bicycle accidents occurred at intersections[8]. Of these, the most common bicycle accidents involved cross traffic at intersections (16%) or making right-band turns through traffic (13%) or across traffic (16%). For accidents not at intersections, the major types of bicycle accidents were rear end (11%) and on road out-of-control (11%).
The worst periods for bicycle accidents in 1992 appeared to be between 2pm-8pm (52%) and particularly 4pm-6pm (26%) on public and school holidays.
In 1992/93 non-motor vehicle accidents (non-MVAs) accounted for 85% of bicyclist hospital injury, 91% of riders younger 16 vears of age and 76% of riders 16 years and over[6]. Where children are concerned, Dr Victor Carey (1991)[9], indicated that the predominant cause of injury in non-MVAs, was losing control of their bicycle (73%). Becoming entangled in the bike, hitting an object and bike malfunction accounted for the remainder of the accidents in which children were injured.
The injury statistics from police reports reflect the riding pattern. In 1991/92, males made up 87% of those killed/seriously injured[8]. Of these casualties, 10-19 year olds accounted for 36%.
According to hospital data[10], the most prominent age for injury is 5-14 year olds, who in 1991/92 accounted for 53% of bicyclist injuries. In 1991/92 nearly three out of four injuries involved cyclists younger than 19 years.
In the surveys conducted in 1992 and 1993, the quality of helmet wearing was observed. Bicycle helmets afford little or no protection if worn incorrectly. From the latest survey, of the 80% of riders observed wearing bicycle helmets, the correct wearing rate was only 66%. This means, of the bicyclists observed, only 53% were wearing a helmet so that it afforded maximum protection, 27% wore helmets but would receive no protection in the event of an accident, and 20% weren't wearing a helmet at all. Figure 4 indicates that of the bicyclists wearing a helmet, riders older than 16 years (72% correct) wore their helmets correctly more often than the younger riders (53% correct), and rural riders (67% correct) wore their bicycle helmets correctly more often than Sydney riders (50% correct). Although not shown, a further breakdown of the data suggests that young males are the worst offenders (51% correct), with young females not far behind (60% correct).
Meredyth-Ann Williams
Behavioural Scientist