Bicycle Helmet Legislation
Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati and the SAFE KIDS Coalition support bicycle helmet legislation to help protect children and prevent head injuries.
The Need | The SolutionThe Need
Cincinnati Children's gathered statistics about bicycle-related injuries and deaths for 1999 the illustrate a need for bicycle helmet legislation.
- In the greater Cincinnati area from 1991-1998, there were 850 children admitted to Children's Hospital for bicycle-related injuries, 414 of whom had head injuries; only 5 percent with head injuries were known to be wearing helmets.
- For each child admitted with a bicycle-related injury, there are approximately eight more seen in the emergency department who are not admitted.
- From 1991-1998, seven children died from bicycle-related injuries, six of whom had head injuries; none were wearing helmets.
- In the same eight years, fourteen children required long-term rehabilitation due to their injuries, with thirteen sustaining head injuries; none was wearing a helmet.
- In the past five years, Children's Hospital Medical Center has distributed over 60,0000 helmets to children, yet the rate of helmet usage has not changed.
- Based on a focus group from Bond Hill Elementary School, parents favor a mandatory bicycle helmet law.
The SAFE KIDS Coalition and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gathered statistics about bicycle-related injuries and deaths for 1998 the illustrate a need for bicycle helmet legislation.
- Bicycles remain associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the automobile.
- In 1998, 761 individuals were killed in bicycle-related crashes; 30 percent of the bicyclists were under 16 years of age.
- Ninety-eight percent of the bicyclists killed in 1998 reportedly were not wearing helmets.
- In 1997, more than 350,000 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries.
- Riding without a bicycle helmet significantly increases the risk of sustaining a head injury in the event of a crash.
- Non-helmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than bicyclists wearing a helmet.
- It is estimated that 75 percent of bicyclist-related fatalities among children could be prevented with a bicycle helmet.
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The Solution
Legislation requiring the use of protective equipment when riding a bicycle can decrease injuries and fatalities and increase helmet use. This type of legislation has been effective across the country at the state and local level.
California was the first state to pass this legislation in 1987. Currently, 15 states have mandatory helmet legislation, and dozens of localities have enacted similar ordinances.
Although Ohio's legislators considered a bill that would require every child under the age of 18 to wear a protective bicycle helmet when riding a bike on public streets, the bill did not pass.
Some cities in Ohio have decided to protect their citizens by enacting local regulations requiring helmet usage. These proactive cities include Beachwood, Brecksville, Centerville, Strongsville, and Shaker Heights.
Legislation needs to be passed in Cincinnati to protect our children.
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If you would like to pass bicycle helmet legislation in your community, please call 513-636-7565 for information and help.
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