OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of 3 different bicycle helmet laws. METHODS: A direct observational study of nearly 1000 cyclists at 20 matched sites in each of 3 contiguous counties--Rockland and Westchester in New York and Fairfield in Connecticut--was carried out. Rockland's bicycle helmet law requires approved helmets for all cyclists regardless of age; Westchester's, by state law, requires cyclists younger than 14 years to wear helmets; and Fairfield's, also by state law, requires cyclists younger than 12 years to wear helmets when riding on highways. RESULTS: Rockland cyclists had the highest helmet use rate (35%), followed by Westchester (24%) and Fairfield (14%) cyclists. As a subgroup, teenagers used helmets least, a trend that was seen in all 3 counties. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a positive effect of bicycle helmet legislation with no age limitation.
OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of 3 different bicycle helmet laws. METHODS: A direct observational study of nearly 1000 cyclists at 20 matched sites in each of 3 contiguous counties--Rockland and Westchester in New York and Fairfield in Connecticut--was carried out. Rockland's bicycle helmet law requires approved helmets for all cyclists regardless of age; Westchester's, by state law, requires cyclists younger than 14 years to wear helmets; and Fairfield's, also by state law, requires cyclists younger than 12 years to wear helmets when riding on highways. RESULTS: Rockland cyclists had the highest helmet use rate (35%), followed by Westchester (24%) and Fairfield (14%) cyclists. As a subgroup, teenagers used helmets least, a trend that was seen in all 3 counties. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a positive effect of bicycle helmet legislation with no age limitation.
Authors: T R Coté; J J Sacks; D A Lambert-Huber; A L Dannenberg; M J Kresnow; C M Lipsitz; E R Schmidt Journal: Pediatrics Date: 1992-06 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: P Lardelli-Claret; J de Dios Luna-del-Castillo; J J Jiménez-Moleón; M García-Martín; A Bueno-Cavanillas; R Gálvez-Vargas Journal: Inj Prev Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 2.399