Bicycle-Related Injuries

Rates of bicycle helmet use in an affluent Michigan county

“…Consistent with other reports, adult helmet use is significantly higher than that of school-age children (2). The very low level of helmet use in older, school-age children is consistent with previous reports which have noted that children in this age group are at increased risk for serious accidental injury (8). Direct adult supervision is reduced in cyclists in this age group compared with children in bicycle seats or trailers, who are de facto accompanied by an older rider, generally an adult.…”

“…Sidewalks permit a limited separation from motor traffic, while riding in the road exposes the cyclist to the greatest risk of encountering a motor vehicle. Since the majority of bicyclerelated fatalities involve collisions with motor vehicles (5,6,8) in this sample, the group at greater risk appears to be taking the greater precaution.…”

Head injuries in helmeted child bicyclists.

“…[18][19][20][21][22] Although one study has shown the helmet to give some form of protection to the face,23 the present report and one other study tend to show no evidence for such a protective effect.24 Even if theoretically the helmet can protect the forehead, doubts about its effectiveness in providing facial protection remain, particularly when the helmet is worn on the back of the head, as is often the case. Protection could be improved relatively easily, without additional discomfort and without increasing the warmth of the helmet, by adding a modified face guard similar to that used by North American football players.…”

Bicycle Helmet Use among Children in Hillsborough County, Florida

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