Evaluation of New Zealand's bicycle helmet law.
The New Zealand helmet law (all ages) came into effect on 1 January 1994. It followed Australian helmet laws, introduced in 1990-1992. Pre-law (in 1990) cyclist deaths were nearly a quarter of pedestrians in number, but in 2006-09, the equivalent figure was near to 50% when adjusted for changes to hours cycled and walked. From 1988-91 to 2003-07, cyclists' overall injury rate per hour increased by 20%. Dr Hillman, from the UK's Policy Studies Institute, calculated that life years gained by cycling outweighed life years lost in accidents by 20 times. For the period 1989-1990 to 2006-2009, New Zealand survey data showed that average hours cycled per person reduced by 51%. This evaluation finds the helmet law has failed in aspects of promoting cycling, safety, health, accident compensation, environmental issues and civil liberties.
Colin@vood.freeserve.co.uk
Colin F
CF
Clarke
D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000639:trends; D000293:Adolescent; D001642:Bicycling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002961:Civil Rights; D004777:Environment; D033161:Government Regulation; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016138:Walking / Q000639:trends; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control