U.S.A.: Awareness of bicycle helmet laws

In North Carolina, in the Southeastern United States, four bicyclists are killed or injured every day. One out of three bicyclists killed there is a child, under 16 years old. This occurs in spite of a law in North Carolina that requires all bicyclists under 16 years old to wear a helmet. Failure to comply with the law may mean a $10 fine for the child’s parent or guardian.

Observational studies in North Carolina have shown that, in spite of the law, few children – between 12 and 16% - wear bicycle helmets. Fewer still were wearing them correctly. To examine whether lack of awareness of the helmet law was a factor in these low wearing rates, researchers from the Department of Emergency Medicine at Eastern Carolina University medical school conducted a survey in the county in which they were located, Pitt County.

Survey questionnaires were distributed to a convenience sample of about 600 parents, physicians and emergency personnel, and teachers. Almost three quarters of those asked participated in the survey. Most knew about the law (ranging from 69% for parents to 75% for teachers), but among parents, 18% said their child never wore a helmet. The majority of the respondents understood proper helmet use, although most underestimated helmets’ effectiveness. Most of the parents (80%) felt that the burden of educating children about helmet should fall on them.

The results of the survey showed that there was general awareness of the effectiveness of helmets and of the North Carolina bicycle helmet law, but this awareness does not translate into increase helmet wearing rates. The study authors concluded that additional educational efforts are needed to increase helmet use. These educational efforts should be reinforced by additional enforcement of the existing helmet law.

Carter KA, Brewer KL, Garrison HG. Awareness of the bicycle helmet law in North Carolina. N C Med J 207;68(4): 225-30.

back to Headlines