 |
 |
|
|
| This summer | ||
| bicycle news headlines statistics comments | ||
|
:::news headlines::: |
:::statistics::: Who is at risk? Bicycle helmet effectiveness How many helmets are sold each year? Some bike shops still do not carry helmets Who is at Risk Riding without a bicycle helmet increases the risk of sustaining a head injury in the event of a crash. Nonhelmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than bicyclists wearing a helmet. Collision with a motor vehicle and crashes occurring at speeds greater than 15 miles per hour increase the risk of severe bicycle-related injury and death. Children ages 14 and under are five times more likely to be injured in a bicycle-related crash than older riders. Males account for approximately 85 percent of bicycle-related deaths and 70 percent of nonfatal injuries and have higher bicycle-related death and injury rates than females. Children ages 10 to 14, especially males, have the highest death rate from bicycle-related head injury of all ages. Children under age 10 are at greater risk for serious injury and are more likely to suffer head injuries than older riders. Approximately half of all bicycle-related injuries among children under age 10 occur to the head/face, compared to one-fifth among older children. Bicyclists admitted to hospitals with head injuries are 20 times more likely to die as those without head injuries. back to top Bicycle Helmet Effectiveness Bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent. Bicycle helmets have also been shown to offer substantial protection to the forehead and mid face. It is estimated that 75 percent of bicycle-related fatalities among children could be prevented with a bicycle helmet. Universal use of bicycle helmets by children ages 4 to 15 could prevent between 135 and 155 deaths, between 39,000 and 45,000 head injuries, and between 18,000 and 55,000 scalp and face injuries annually. Child helmet ownership and use increases with income and educational level, yet decreases with age. Children are more likely to wear a bicycle helmet if riding with others (peers or adults) who are also wearing one and less likely to wear one if their companions are not. Statistics from the National Safe Kids Campaign. back to top How Many Helmets are Sold Each Year? (Updated November, 2000) We have asked many manufacturers if they had a good estimate of how many helmets are sold in the US market each year. If they do have that info, they are not sharing it. The best guesses we have found are in the 14 to 15 million range. The bulk of those would be mass merchant sales, rather than the helmets sold in bike shops. We have heard rumors that mass merchant sales may be up as much as 20 per cent in 2000, perhaps linked in part to the increase in scooter sales. We have noted a small price increase in advertised mass merchant sales prices in our area. Statistics from Pure Speculation. back to top Some Bike Shops Still Do Not Carry Helmets (As reported in American Bicyclist in August, 1995) Ninety-three percent of bike shops carry helmets. Two percent plan to add them in the coming year. American Bicyclist asks if that can mean that one bike shop in 20 still does not carry helmets. Statistics from American Bicyclist. back to top :::comments::: If you have any comments about this special project, please feel free to e-mail us at: info@theworldjournal.com back to top |
TheWorldJournal.com 2001 © All rights reserved |