Helmet use among competitive cyclists.
The United States Cycling Federation (USCF) decision in 1986 to mandate helmet use in all sponsored races marked a major initiative in cycling safety. Confirming earlier reports about the effectiveness of helmets in preventing injuries, this study also examines the attitudes of 554 USCF members toward the policy and about helmet use in both racing and nonracing situations. Although 64% of the racers reported some hardshell helmet use in training before the policy, 80% used helmets in training after the ruling. Most cyclists favored the USCF policy, although only 19% favored requiring helmet use in all cycling situations. Attitudes about helmet policy and actual use by racers were inconsistent; large percentages of those opposing mandatory helmet use in racing (51%) and in training (76%) used helmets themselves. We suggest possibilities for incremental expansion of helmet use requirements for all riders.
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Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
Earp
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Reese
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011640:Public Policy; D014481:United States