Volume 191 - Issue 5
Bicycling injuries and mortality in Victoria, 2001–2006
Authors: Antonina A Mikocka-Walus, Francis T McDermott and Peter A Cameron
Med J Aust 2009; 191 (5): 295-296. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02803.x
Published online: 7 September 2009
Published online: 7 September 2009
In reply: The main conclusion of our population-based study1 was that a consistent increase in bicycle-related injuries occurred over the study period. Our study was not designed to analyse the effect of helmet wearing. The potential benefits of helmet wearing were identified in the discussion as a means of reducing the increasing burden of injury.
There has been opposition to legislation enforcing helmet wearing in Australia.2 The response to this opposition has been adequately addressed by Canadian researchers.3,4 In addition, a number of Cochrane systematic reviews have arrived at different conclusions to Wardlaw.5,6 Although there are no randomised controlled trials, the weight of evidence would suggest that wearing helmets reduces head injuries in the bicycle-riding population and the imposition is worth the inconvenience to bicycle riders.
References
- Sikic M, Mikocka-Walus AA, Gabbe BJ, et al. Bicycling injuries and mortality in Victoria, 2001–2006. Med J Aust 2009; 190: 353-356. CBBBGFFG
- Robinson DL. No clear evidence from countries that have enforced the wearing of helmets. BMJ 2006; 332: 722-725. i1091852
- Hagel B, Macpherson A, Rivara FP, Pless B. Arguments against helmet legislation are flawed. BMJ 2006; 332: 725-726. CBBJECCC
- Hagel BE, Pless B. A critical examination of arguments against bicycle helmet use and legislation. Accid Anal Prev 2006; 38: 277-278. CBBDDIIJ
- Macpherson A, Spinks A. Bicycle helmet legislation for the uptake of helmet use and prevention of head injuries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008; (3): CD005401. CBBIFABJ
- Thompson DC, Rivara FP, Thompson R. Helmets for preventing head and facial injuries in bicyclists. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000; (2): CD001855. CBBFGFDI