Effectiveness of Bicycle Safety Helmets in Preventing Head Injuries

Bicycle helmets, regardless of type, provide substantial protection against head injuries for cyclists of all ages involved in crashes, including crashes involving motor vehicles.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the protective effectiveness of bicycle helmets in 4 different age groups of bicyclists, in crashes involving motor vehicles, and by helmet type and certification standards. Places studied were emergency departments in 7 Seattle, Washington area hospitals between March 1, 1992 and August 31, 1994. There were 3,390 injured bicyclists in the study; 29% of cases and 56% of controls were helmeted. It was concluded that bicycle helmets, regardless of type, provide substantial protection against head injuries for cyclists of all ages involved in crashes, including crashes involving motor vehicles.