EFFECT OF HELMET USE IN REDUCING HEAD INJURY IN BICYCLE ACCIDENTS

As yet there has not been reported an adequate field demonstration of the protective effects of bicycle safety helmets. Evaluation of helmet efficacy has rested almost entirely on laboratory tests of questionable relevance to real world accidents. In the present study 894 South Australian cycling enthusiasts were contacted by mail with regard to their most recent accident and their helmet use at the time. Overall, 197 bicyclists were identified who had experienced an accident within the past 5 years, and had struck their head or helmet in the accident. Helmet status ranged from no helmet used (n = 75), to hairnet-style helmet (n = 69), to unlined solid helmet (n = 37), to lined solid helmet (n = 16). Analysis of the crude, unadjusted data showed a statistically significant association between helmet use and reduced severity of head injury. The association persisted after adjustment for age, sex and severity of crash forces. It is estimated that the risk of death from head injury is 3-10 times greater for unhelmeted relative to helmeted bicyclists, depending on helmet type.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado, October 8-10, 1984.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Association for Automotive Medicine

  P.O. Box 222
  Morton Grove, IL  United States  60053
• Authors:
  • DORSCH, M M
  • WOODWARD, A J
  • Somers, R L
• Conference:
  • 28th Annual Conference of the American Association for Automotive Medicine
  • Location: Denver Colorado, United States
  • Date: 1984-10-8 to 1984-10-10
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 247-259
• Monograph Title: PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, DENVER, COLORADO, USA, OCTOBER 8-10, 1984. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR AUTOMOTIVE MEDICINE

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chemical reduction; Crashes; Cyclists; Data analysis; Head; Helmets; Injuries; Injury severity; Mathematical analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Head injuries; Severity
• Old TRIS Terms: Reduction
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00395810
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1985 12:00AM