Skip to main content
PMC home page
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal logoLink to CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal
. 1992 May 1;146(9):1581–1585.

Trends in bicycle helmet use in Ottawa from 1988 to 1991.

R Cushman 1, R Pless 1, D Hope 1, C Jenkins 1
PMCID: PMC1488499  PMID: 1571869

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence rates of helmet use by cyclists in Ottawa in September 1991 and to compare them with the rates in a baseline survey conducted in September 1988. DESIGN: Observational survey. SUBJECTS: A total of 3252 cyclists (commuters, recreational cyclists and students in primary, secondary and postsecondary schools) were observed. In the baseline study 1963 such cyclists had been surveyed. RESULTS: In 1991, 1056 (32.5%) of the cyclists were observed wearing helmets. After the samples were standardized for varying size across the cyclist groups the total helmet use was found to have increased from 10.7% in 1988 to 32.2% in 1991. The highest increase in the rate of helmet use was found among the commuters (from 17.9% in 1988 to 44.6% in 1991); the rate had increased from 14.3% to 31.1% among the recreational cyclists and from 1.9% to 21.0% among the students. All of the trends were statistically significant (p less than 0.0001). When the student population was subdivided the rate of helmet use was found to be 25% among the elementary school children, 17% among the secondary school students and 20.2% among the postsecondary school students. CONCLUSIONS: The use of bicycle helmets in Ottawa has increased dramatically. Our experience, as well as evidence from other centres, indicates that specific interventions such as media coverage, bulk-buying projects in schools and discount coupons can accelerate the rate of helmet adoption. Although less than half of cyclists are wearing helmets the trend has acquired considerable momentum, and major gains are expected in the next few years. Nevertheless, resistance among young adults and the cost of helmets for low-income groups may be problems. These challenges call for the refinement of future promotional strategies.

Full text

PDF
1581

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bishop P. J., Briard B. D. Impact performance of bicycle helmets. Can J Appl Sport Sci. 1984 Jun;9(2):94–101. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Blair L. CMA launches bicycle-helmet campaign, hopes to reduce roadside carnage. CMAJ. 1991 Jun 1;144(11):1498–1499. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bouvier R. Bicycle accidents in childhood. Social and preventive aspects. Aust Fam Physician. 1984 Apr;13(4):287–289. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cushman R., Down J., MacMillan N., Waclawik H. Bicycle-related injuries: a survey in a pediatric emergency department. CMAJ. 1990 Jul 15;143(2):108–112. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cushman R., Down J., MacMillan N., Waclawik H. Helmet promotion in the emergency room following a bicycle injury: a randomized trial. Pediatrics. 1991 Jul;88(1):43–47. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Cushman R., James W., Waclawik H. Physicians promoting bicycle helmets for children: a randomized trial. Am J Public Health. 1991 Aug;81(8):1044–1046. doi: 10.2105/ajph.81.8.1044. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. DiGuiseppi C. G., Rivara F. P., Koepsell T. D., Polissar L. Bicycle helmet use by children. Evaluation of a community-wide helmet campaign. JAMA. 1989 Oct 27;262(16):2256–2261. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Dorsch M. M., Woodward A. J., Somers R. L. Do bicycle safety helmets reduce severity of head injury in real crashes? Accid Anal Prev. 1987 Jun;19(3):183–190. doi: 10.1016/0001-4575(87)90002-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Friede A. M., Azzara C. V., Gallagher S. S., Guyer B. The epidemiology of injuries to bicycle riders. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1985 Feb;32(1):141–151. doi: 10.1016/s0031-3955(16)34762-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Guichon D. M., Myles S. T. Bicycle injuries: one-year sample in Calgary. J Trauma. 1975 Jun;15(6):504–506. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. McDermott F. T., Klug G. L. Head injury predominance: pedal-cyclists vs motor-cyclists. Med J Aust. 1985 Sep 16;143(6):232–234. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1985.tb122954.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Morris B. A., Trimble N. E. Promotion of bicycle helmet use among schoolchildren: a randomized clinical trial. Can J Public Health. 1991 Mar-Apr;82(2):92–94. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Reynolds R., Cohen D. Children, bicycles and head injuries. Med J Aust. 1987 Jun 15;146(12):615–615. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1987.tb120437.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Thompson R. S., Rivara F. P., Thompson D. C. A case-control study of the effectiveness of bicycle safety helmets. N Engl J Med. 1989 May 25;320(21):1361–1367. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198905253202101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Weiss B. D. Bicycle helmet use by children. Pediatrics. 1986 May;77(5):677–679. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Weiss B. D. Trends in bicycle helmet use by children: 1985 to 1990. Pediatrics. 1992 Jan;89(1):78–80. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Worrell J. Head injuries in pedal cyclists: how much will protection help? Injury. 1987 Jan;18(1):5–6. doi: 10.1016/0020-1383(87)90373-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association

RESOURCES