eMJA: Bicycling injuries and mortality in Victoria, 2001

To the Editor: Sikic and colleagues state that the 1990 legislation making helmets compulsory for bicyclists in Victoria was associated with a decrease in non-fatal head injuries and fatalities.1 However, of the three citations given to support this statement (references 8–10 in Sikic et al),1 one is a study performed before the helmet law was introduced, another is an editorial, and the third makes the common error of attributing to helmet use the effects of economic recession and road safety campaigns. These together reduced all road deaths in Australia by about a third.2 Careful analysis takes account of such factors.

NB: If you are registered with the eMJA, your username is the email address you have provided.
If you don't have a login, click here for subscription options. You will be prompted to create an account upon purchase.

AMA members can login using their AMA username and password.
If you don't know your AMA password, please contact the AMA on 02 6270 5400 or membership@ama.com.au, or try to retrieve your password at this address.

The Medical Journal of Australia eMJA

Username:
Password:

Password forgotten? Click here What is my username?