TRENDS IN CYCLIST HELMET WEARING IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

A review of data obtained in cyclist helmet wearing surveys since April 1986 indicates that there have been steady increases in wearing rates for Perth metropolitan primary school aged cyclists. Much of this change is attributed to the promotion of the benefits of helmet wearing eg, the helmet rebate scheme. The helmet rebate scheme has been particularly popular and all Perth primary schools in the latest police survey were operating such a scheme. High school cyclist wearing rates remain low. Country high school cyclist wearing rates are currently 5 per cent, which is similar to Perth rates. The main results of the February 1989 survey were: Perth primary school cyclist wearing rates have increased to 46 per cent. Country primary school cyclist wearing rates have decreased slightly to 46 per cent. Perth high school wearing rates remain low at around 4 per cent of cyclists. Country high school cyclist helmet wearing rates also remain low at 5 per cent. Increases in helmet wearing amongst adult commuter cyclists were observed, and the rate for males continued to be higher than that for females. As with previous surveys, it appears that helmet wearing promotion has been most successful with primary school cyclists. Additional strategies may need to be examined for high school cyclists and for parents of primary school cyclists not yet influenced by promotions. Future surveys of wearing rates will provide a measure of any "flow on" effect which may occur when primary school aged cyclists who wear helmets progress to and through high school education.

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• Corporate Authors:

  WESTERN AUSTRALIA. POLICE DEPARTMENT. RESEARCH A

  22 MOUNT STREET
  Perth, Western Australia,   Australia 

  STATISTICS SECTION

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Hearne, K
  • MAISEY, G
• Publication Date: 1989-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 13 p.
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Western Australia Police Dept, Statistics Sect
  • Publisher: Western Australia Police Department
  • ISSN: 0811-5850

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adults; Age; Bicycles; Continuous structures; Crashes; Cyclists; Females; Hazards; Helmets; Injury severity; Males; Protective clothing; Publicity; Risk assessment; Rural areas; Schools; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Decreases; Observation; Use
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 1747: Adult; 1757: Age; 8006: Australia; 1211: Bicycle; 9006: Continuous; 1687: Crash helmet; 1742: Cyclist; 9009: Decrease; 1787: Man; 8573: Publicity; 9150: Risk; 328: Rural area; 101: School; 1623: Severity (accid, injury); 9101: Surveillance; 313: Urban area; 9084: Use; 1788: Woman
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00499438
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM