Scottish Government

CHAPTER SIX: WHAT SAFETY AIDS WERE USED?

This chapter examines the extent to which cyclists had safety or visibility aids at the time of the accident. In particular this chapter examines the use of cycle helmets and incidence is examined by gender, age and location.

6.1 INCIDENCE OF WEARING A HELMET

Nearly four in ten cyclists who had been injured indicated that they were wearing a helmet at the time of their accident.

Figure 9: Incidence of helmet wearing

The 2001 Survey of Cycling in Scotland showed that 65% of all cyclists never wore a helmet ( i.e. leaving 35% who 'always' or 'sometimes' wore a helmet). Only 18% said that they wore a helmet on every trip however and a further 5% wore one on most trips.

Females who had an accident were slightly more likely than males to be wearing a helmet (40% compared to 38%).

Table 13: Incidence of helmet wearing by adult/ child

Adults who had been involved in an accident were much more likely than the children in this sample to be wearing a helmet. Fifty-seven per cent of adults aged 16 or over were wearing a helmet at the time of their accident. This compares with only 24% of the under 16 age group. A further examination of the data reveals that incidence of helmet wearing is 29% amongst the younger child age group of 5-10 but drops to only 18% amongst the 11-15 age group. This is in keeping with previous research which shows that the young teenage group were the least likely to be wearing a helmet.

A recent study undertaken by Moller and Sheridan of the University of Strathclyde measured paediatric cyclists attending the Emergency Departments of the Glasgow Hospital for Sick Children and the Victoria Infirmary and found that 28% of children (defined in that study as 4 - 13 year olds) were wearing a helmet at the time of their accident. This too is a very similar figure to that determined in this study.

Within the adult group incidence of helmet wearing is lowest amongst younger adults and only 24% of 16-18 year olds were found to be wearing a helmet. After the age of 25 the incidence of helmet wearing increases to nearly half (49%) of the 25-44 age group but then to 64% amongst the 45-60 age group.

Thirty-eight per cent of respondents whose accident involved a car had been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, only slightly less than the average for the entire sample. This compares to 41% of those whose accident involved no other vehicles.

Whether the accident occurred in the town or the country makes a difference to the likelihood of wearing a cycle helmet. Those who describe their accident location as rural were more likely to have been wearing a helmet (63%). However, this statistic is raised by the mountain bikers who are much more likely to be wearing helmets. Ninety-five per cent of those who explicitly said their accident happened at Glentress were wearing a helmet.

Table 14: Incidence of wearing a helmet by location of accident

Note: Not stated excluded and therefore tables will not add to 100%

A very high proportion of those cycling on a cycle track or a forest track or mountain bike trail were wearing a helmet at the time of their accident. Only 24% of those on a cycle track said they were not wearing a helmet and only 15% of those who suffered an accident on a forest track or mountain bike trail were not wearing a helmet.

By contrast those whose accident was on a pavement were much more likely to not wear a helmet, with 78% not wearing any head protection at the time of their accident.

Of the on road accidents, cyclists were more likely to have been wearing a helmet if their accident had occurred on a main road or a cycle lane but significantly less likely if they were cycling on a side road. The correlation between the greater likelihood of children cycling on both side roads and pavements is clear.

Overall, just over a third (34%) of those suffering an on-road accident were wearing a helmet at the time.

Wearing a helmet made very little difference to the outcome for the casualty as measured by the proportion in need of medical follow up or admission to hospital. Of those wearing a helmet 24% were admitted or discharged with follow up compared to 26% of those who were not wearing a helmet.

6.2 VISIBILITY AIDS

Over half of all cyclists involved in an accident indicated that they had reflectors on their bicycle and 25% indicated that the cycle had lights.

Table 15: Incidence of visibility aids

As might be expected, there was a greater likelihood of lights on the cycle if the accident happened at night. Sixty-three per cent of those who had an accident between 9.00pm and midnight said they had lights on their cycle. Cycle casualties were also more likely to have had lights on their cycle if their accident had happened on a road (36%).

Summary of key findings

• Thirty-nine per cent of all casualties reported that they were wearing a helmet at the time of their accident.
• Adults were more likely than children to have been wearing a helmet (57% compared to 24%)
• Helmet wearing is higher amongst young children (5-10 years old ) than 11-15 year olds ( 29% compared to 18%).
• Helmet wearing increases with age throughout adulthood. Twenty-four per cent of 16-18 year olds were wearing a helmet, rising to 49% amongst the 25-44 age group and then to 64% in the 45-60 age group.
• Thirty-eight per cent of those whose accident involved a car were wearing a helmet, only slightly less than the average for the entire sample.
• Ninety-five per cent of those who specifically said their accident occurred at Glentress were wearing a helmet.
• Those whose accident occurred on a pavement were less likely to be wearing a helmet (21%).
• Cyclists were more likely to be wearing a helmet if their accident occurred on a main road rather than on a side road (43% compared to 29%).
• Incidence of helmet wearing did not seem to vary much by the seriousness of the injury. Of those who required admission or follow up 38% were wearing a helmet compared to 42 % of those who were discharged without any follow up.
• Only 25% of cycle casualties reported having lights on their cycle but this rose to 63% of those who had the accident between 9.00pm and midnight.