Benefit of cycle helmet laws to reduce head injuries still uncertain, new study claims

The benefit of helmet legislation to reduce admissions to hospital for head injuries is "substantially uncertain," concludes a study published in BMJ today.

The authors say that, while helmets reduce and their use should be encouraged, in the context of existing safety campaigns, the impact of legislation seems to be minimal.

Cyclists are vulnerable road users and head injuries among cyclists account for 75% of cycling related deaths. But debate exists about whether or not is an effective strategy to reduce serious head injuries among of all ages.

So a team of researchers based in Canada examined changes in the rate of cycling related head injuries associated with helmet legislation in young people and adults, while accounting for baseline trends in the rate of cycling injuries.

Between 1994 and 2008, there were 66,716 hospital admissions for cycling related injuries, 30% of which were head injuries.

During this time, there was a substantial and consistent fall in the rate of hospital admissions for cycling related head injuries across Canada.

Reductions were greatest in provinces with helmet legislation. However, the researchers point out that admission rates were falling before the implementation of provincial helmet legislation and, after taking baseline trends into account, did not seem to change in response to legislation.

"When baseline trends in cycling related injury rates were considered, the overall rates of head injuries were not appreciably altered by helmet legislation," they say.

They conclude: "While helmets reduce the risk of head injuries and we encourage their use, in the Canadian context of existing safety campaigns, improvements to the cycling infrastructure, and the passive uptake of , the incremental contribution of provincial helmet legislation to reduce for head injuries seems to have been minimal."

More information: www.bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.f2674

Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Citation: Benefit of cycle helmet laws to reduce head injuries still uncertain, new study claims (2013, May 14) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-benefit-helmet-laws-injuries-uncertain.html
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