Bicycle helmets reduce risk of serious head injury by nearly 70%, study finds

A major study of bike helmet use around the world from more than 64,000 cyclists has found helmets reduce the risks of a serious head injury by nearly 70%.

The study also found neck injuries are not associated with helmet use and cyclists who wear helmets reduce their chance of a fatal head injury by 65%.

The compulsory wearing of bike helmets in Australia has long been a source of frustration for some cyclists, who argue it reduces participation rates. Previous studies have indicated helmet use encourages risk-taking behaviour or does not reduce serious injury to the brain.

But a comprehensive review by Australian statisticians Jake Olivier and Prudence Creighton from the University of New South Wales that drew together data from more than 40 separate studies found helmet use was associated with dramatically reduced odds of head injuries.

The findings were presented in Finland this week at Safety 2016, the world conference on injury prevention and safety promotion.

Olivier’s findings were particularly significant for serious or fatal head injuries and found the reduction was greater for these kinds of more serious injuries.

“Helmet use is associated with odds reductions of 51% for head injury, 69% for serious head injury, 33% for face injury and 65% for fatal head injury. Injuries to the neck were rare and not associated with helmet use,” the study found.

“These results suggest that strategies to increase the uptake of bicycle helmets should be considered along with other injury prevention strategies as part of a comprehensive cycling safety plan.”

The researchers cautioned that helmets were not a “panacea for cycling injury” and did not eliminate head or face injuries or offer protection to other parts of cyclists’ bodies. But it does make the case more difficult for those who oppose mandatory helmet wearing, they said.

“The legislation of mandatory helmets for cyclists is a controversial topic and past research on its effectiveness has been somewhat mixed,” the study said. “Irrespective of past research, the results of this review do not support arguments against helmet legislation from an injury prevention perspective.”

However, critics claim that helmet laws put people off cycling, causing far wider weight-related health problems due to Australians favouring driving, or not moving at all. One study found that 16.5% of people say they would ride more often if they were not required to wear a helmet at all times.

Chris Rissel, a professor of public health at the University of Sydney, told a 2015 Australian Senate inquiry into the subject that cycling numbers dropped after the helmet laws were introduced in the 1990s, which made remaining cyclists more vulnerable.

“In safety terms there is a phenomenon called safety in numbers,” he said. “As more people cycle, our roads become safer for these cyclists.

“Drivers become used to seeing cyclists and adjust their behaviour, and infrastructure tends to be improved to better cater for cycling. Even if cyclists wear helmets they are less safe with fewer cyclists on the road than they would be with more cyclists about.

“Helmets are a barrier to new riders, particularly for occasional and non-regular riders. The need to wear a helmet reinforces the message that cycling is dangerous – with perceptions of danger a major reason people give for not cycling.”

The NSW government has recently reviewed cycling laws and introduced harsh new penalties for a range of offences. The fine for not wearing a helmet has risen from $ 71 to $ 319.

Bicycle helmets reduce risk of serious head injury by nearly 70%, study finds

Cycle helmets are useless, says brain surgeon

“I see lots of men and women in bike accidents and these flimsy small helmets do not aid.”

Mr Marsh stated that he had been riding his bike for forty many years, sporting a cowboy hat, and had only fallen off after.

“I have been cycling for forty many years and have only been knocked off after. I put on a cowboy hat and cowboy boots. I seem totally mad.”

Marsh, who retires in March, also admitted jumping red lights to get ahead of the targeted traffic.

“It’s my life at threat,” he said, ‘So I routinely cross over red lights.”

Cyclists travel all around three.1 billion miles each and every 12 months in Britain. Lights and reflectors are a legal obligation after dark, and reflective jackets an more and more common sight.

But helmets are not compulsory in the Uk, in contrast to in Australia and components of the US, yet the government encourages cyclists to wear one particular.

Study carried out by Dr Ian Walker, a professor of targeted traffic psychology at the University of Bath, showed that motorists drove close to 8cm closer when overtaking cyclists with helmets.

He advised that drivers think helmeted cyclists are much more wise, predicable and seasoned, so consequently the driver isn’t going to need to have to give them significantly space when overtaking.

Non-helmeted cyclists, specially non helmeted “women” are significantly less predictable and seasoned, in accordance to this review and so motorists give them much more room.

Nevertheless, Mr Marsh’s remarks are most likely to anger cycling safety campaigners, who believe that helmets give crucial protection on Britain’s hectic and narrow roads.

James Cracknell, the Olympic rowing gold medalist, was virtually killed whilst cycling in 2010 following he was hit by a petrol tanker.

He has said that he only survived the accident because he had been wearing a helmet and has described individuals who do not wear one particular as “selfish” as their actions can effect their loved ones.

“From a personal point of see I would be dead if I hadn’t worn a helmet,” he mentioned. “A wing mirror smashed into my skull at 70mph.

“There is no downside to wearing a helmet except possessing messy hair. And you have to keep in mind that eight out of 10 children who have cycling accidents are not on the road.

“Even if you will not care enough about yourself to wear a helmet other people care about you.”

A Division of Transport examine has shown that helmets could prevent ten-sixteen per cent of cyclist fatalities, though this was also an estimate primarily based on a small study.

Angie Lee, Chief Executive of the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Believe in said: “I hope he is going to consider obligation for the cyclist who will get injured since they get their helmet off following his comments.

“This might be his opinion but there are a great deal far more neurosurgeons and surgeons who would counter that argument.

“My suggestions would be the identical as the Division of Transport’s which is that helmets have a spot in safeguarding the head.”

Marsh, who retires in March, also admitted jumping red lights to get ahead of the site visitors.

“It’s my life at danger,” he explained, ‘So I regularly cross in excess of red lights.”

Cycle helmets are useless, says brain surgeon