NHTSA Tells It Like It Is

America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently put on its Web site a 219-page study of bicycle helmet laws in six US states and towns, including one where the law was repealed. Common themes that emerged were:

• Coalitions that focused on child safety, injury, brain injury or bicycle injury prevention were  a key factor in program delivery, bill introduction, passage and implementation of a bicycle helmet law.
• Pediatric and emergency medicine professionals were identified as key constituencies in support of helmet laws.
• The enactment of helmet laws followed the conventional legislative process, supplemented by concerns unique to the bill.
• The law enforcement community was generally not deeply involved in the law’s introduction, passage, or evaluation.
• These laws routinely allow the fine to be waived if a bicycle helmet is purchased.
• Bicycle helmet laws led to unique enforcement issues compared with infractions committed by motor vehicle operators.
• Effectiveness was not formally defined and informal descriptions of effectiveness varied.

To increase the effectiveness of the laws the study suggests:

• Law enforcement must make the law a priority; if the law is not enforced, it loses its effectiveness.
• On-going efforts in education and awareness are needed, similar to those supporting safety belt laws.
• Proponents should educate the news media about the need for the law.
• The public needs to be better educated on the physics of injury.
• Those implementing the law must “continuously deliver the  message” about bicycle helmet use.

Review the entire study at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/BikeHelmetUseLawsWeb/pages/toc.htm

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