This paper confines itself to lightweight helmets, and more precisely to cycle helmets, and to the prevention of head injuries to cyclists. The paper focuses on the following four topics: (1) a brief epidemiological overview of injuries to cyclists; (2) an indication of the part that helmets can play in the protection of cyclists; (3) a review of some of the key papers on the effectiveness of cycle helmets in accidents; and (4) an attempt in order to identify any outstanding issues, some of which arise from the review of the literature.
Abstract