Bicycle helmets: systematic reviews on legislation, effects of legislation on cycling exposure, and risk compensation

Bicycle helmet legislation (BHL) has been introduced in many jurisdictions to increase helmet wearing among cyclists. Past studies indicate BHL is associated with increased helmet wearing and reductions in cycling head injury. Critics of bicycle helmet legislation argue BHL deters people from cycling. Several sources claim the reduction due to BHL is approximately of 30-40% which is often used as a reason against the creation of new helmet laws or to repeal current ones. However, there are other studies that have found no reductions in cycling following helmet legislation. Those critical of helmet use argue the use of protective equipment such as a helmet are counterproductive due to risk compensation. This hypothesis posits that wearing a helmet might lead cyclists to engage in riskier behaviours. There is a lack of consensus in this area with supportive and non-supportive studies in the literature, and previous calls for a systematic review on bicycle helmets and risk compensation have gone unanswered. The objectives of this study were (1) to systematically identify and describe bicycle helmet laws worldwide, (2) to systematically review the evidence bicycle helmet legislation is associated with reductions in cycling, and (3) to systematically review the evidence wearing a bicycle helmet will increase a cyclist’s risky behaviour.

• Record URL:
  http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/unsworks_50591
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report for Swedish Transport Administration
• Corporate Authors:

  University of New South Wales

  Sydney, New South Wales  Australia  2052
• Authors:
  • Olivier, J
  • Esmaeilikia, M
  • Grzebieta, R
• Publication Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 130p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash exposure; Cyclists; Helmets; Legislation; Risk taking
• Uncontrolled Terms: International comparison
• ATRI Terms: Cyclist; Exposure; Helmet usage; Injury prevention; International comparison; Legislation; Risk taking; Systematic review
• Subject Areas: Law; Pedestrians and Bicyclists;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01700912
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 2 2019 9:35AM