Bicycle Helmets

Bicycle helmets are 85 to 88 percent effective in mitigating head and brain injuries, making the use of helmets the single most effective way to reduce head injuries and fatalities resulting from bicycle crashes.  Nearly 70 percent of all fatal bicycle crashes involve head injuries. But, despite the known safety benefits of helmet use, only about 20 to 25 percent of all bicyclists wear bicycle helmets.

Return on Investment for Bicycle Helmet Use

• The estimated annual cost of bicycle-related injuries and deaths is $8 billion.  Bicycle related head injuries are costly because these injuries may require treatment for a lifetime.
• Every dollar spent on bicycle helmets saves society $30 in indirect medical costs and other costs.

Bicycle Helmet Safety Standard

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a final rule in 1998 establishing a Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets that mandates several performance requirements:

• Impact protection in a crash
• Children’s helmets and head coverage
• Chinstrap length
• Helmet stability
• Peripheral vision

A helmet meeting the standard must have a label indicating compliance with the CPSC requirements.

Wearing a Bicycle Helmet

• Model safe bicycling behavior.  Everyone – adults and children — should wear a bicycle helmet every time they ride.
• Be certain that your helmet meets the uniform safety standard by looking for a label or sticker on the helmet.
• The helmet will not protect your head if it is not properly fitted
• Never ride a bicycle without wearing a helmet, even on short trips.
• After a crash of any impact that affects the helmet, visible or not, replace it with a new one.
• Purchase a helmet that you are proud to wear. Select a color or design that encourages you or your children to wear it on every ride.

Finding Inexpensive Helmets for Your Employees and their Children

If you need helmets for a safety campaign, there are sources for helmets certified to the CPSC standard beginning at $3 to $5.  If you are seeking helmets for a large order, contact: Safe Kids USA has arranged with one of their sponsors, Bell Sports, to provide helmets made by Bell to their local chapters at prices around $7.50 each. Contact your local Safe Kids chapter or their national headquarters at 202-662-0600.

Most major US helmet manufacturers, on occasion donate helmets for a campaign. Contact them directly.

The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute at http://www.helmets.org/cheapies.htm has additional suggestions on organizations to contact.

For local purchase, a number of national retail chains, including Target, Wal-Mart have youth, adult and toddler helmets starting at $7.14.  Toys ‘R’ Us and other retailers have them every day for $8 to $25. Even bicycle stores, with their higher level of service and valuable help in fitting, usually have helmets under $35. Some local bike shops will shave their prices for a campaign to encourage more walk-in business. So you may find good helmets for your program at a local discounter or bike shop.

Resources for Employers: Keep Your Employee-Cyclists Safe

Brochures to Download

Easy Steps to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/EasySteps Web/index.htm

Download this free brochure (in pdf format) from the NHTSA site and distribute to your employees.  Available in English and Spanish.
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/EasySteps Web/index.htm

Informational Videos

Fitting a Bicycle Helmet (medium resolution, wmv format, 12MB)
Fitting a Bicycle Helmet (high resolution, wmv format, 44MB)
Fitting a Bicycle Helmet (Spanish, wmv format, 20MB)