Cykelhjälmsanvändning i Sverige 1988-2014 : resultat från VTI:s senaste observationsstudie. [Bicycle helmet use in Sweden 1988-2014 : results from VTI’s recent observations.]

Since 1988 VTI has performed annual observation studies of cyclists’ helmet wearing habits in 21 towns in Sweden. Below is a summary of the observations conducted in 2014 on behalf of the Swedish Transport Administration. The 2014 study observed a total of 65,508 cyclists in 21 towns in the four main categories. The weighted average rate of helmet use seen over all categories in 2014, soared to the highest ever. The rate increased continuously until the end of the 1990’s when stagnation occurred for some years. In 2005 legislation requiring children up to 15 years of age to wear a cycle helmet by law, was brought into effect. Helmet use increased again between 2004/2005 and 2008, followed by a stagnation that was broken 2011. The estimated value of the average helmet use is 37.0 per cent for the year 2014, which is significantly higher than the 36.2 per cent in 2013. The results show that children, ? 10 years, cycling in residential areas on average wear a cycle helmet at 81 per cent. Children cycling to/from primary or secondary school (6—15 years old) wear a bicycle helmet on a lesser scale, at about 65 per cent. However the rate differs greatly, 38 per cent in secondary school (children 13—15 years old) and 90 per cent in primary school (children 6—12 years old). Among adults who cycle to/from work, the usage rate is about 29 per cent. Most cyclists were observed on cycle routes and the results include all ages as well as adults only. The total number of cyclists on cycle routes displayed slightly higher helmet usage (32.6 per cent) than the subset of adults (31.2 per cent). The increase in helmet use in 2014 compared to 2013 has been most pronounced for children who cycle to/from their primary or secondary school. The 2014 study, in line with previous studies, focused on four main categories of cyclists: • children (0—10 years) who cycle in their spare time in residential areas • children (6—15 years) who cycle to/from their primary or secondary school • adults (? 16 years) who cycle to/from work • adults (? 16 years) and children who cycle on cycle routes. (Author/publisher)