Statistical errors in anti-helmet arguments

Bicycle helmets are designed to mitigate head injury during a collision. In the early 1990’s, Australia and New Zealand mandated helmet wearing for cyclists in an effort to increase helmet usage. Since that time, helmets and helmet laws have been portrayed as a failure in the peer-reviewed literature, by the media and various advocacy groups. Many of these criticisms claim helmets are ineffective, helmet laws deter cycling, helmet wearing increases the risk of an accident, no evidence helmet laws reduce head injuries at a population level, and helmet laws result in a net health reduction. This paper will demonstrate the data and methods used to support these arguments are statistically flawed.

• Record URL:
  http://acrs.org.au/events/acrs-past-conferences/2013-a-safe-system-the-road-safety-discussion/
• Authors:
  • Olivier, J
  • Grzebieta, R
  • Wang, J J
  • Walter, S
• Conference:
  • Australasian College of Road Safety Conference, 2013, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 20p
• Monograph Title: A safe system: the road safety discussion: 2013 Australasian College of Road Safety Conference, 6-8 November, National Wine Centre, Adelaide

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cyclists; Errors; Helmets; Injuries; Legislation; Research; Statistical analysis; Statistics
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crash helmets; Safe systems (road users)
• ATRI Terms: Cyclist; Error; Helmet usage; Injury prevention; Research method; Statistical analysis
• ITRD Terms: 6471: Analysis (math)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01514744
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 20 2014 10:16AM