The aim of the study was to make a survey of the usage of bicycle helmets in Sweden and to estimate the changes in usage from one year to another. This report shows the results from the measurements during 1988 and 1989. The usage of helmets was measured by observational studies carried out at a number of sites in Sweden. The measurements were concentrated on the following groups: small children (up to 10 years), elementary school pupils, cyclists going to and from work and cyclists using public cycle paths. The results of 1988 show that approximately 20% of the small children and approximately 5% of the elementary school pupils wore bicycle helmets. Among cyclists going to and from work and cyclists observed on public cycle paths scarcely 2% and 3%, respectively, wore helmets. The measurements from 1989 show a striking increase in the usage of helmets among children, where approximately 30% of the small children and approximately 14% of the elementary school pupils wore helmets this particular year. For other groups of cyclists usage was unchanged. The measurements from 1990 also show an increase in the usage of helmets among children. Approximately 35% of the small children and 20% of the elementary school pupils wore helmets. There was a slight increase of approximately 0.5% percentage units for cyclists going to and from work, while usage was unchanged for cyclists using public cycle paths. (A)
Abstract