Cykelhjälmsanvändning i Sverige 1988-1994 : resultat från 1994 års observationsstudie = Bicycle helmet usage in Sweden 1988-1994 : results from the observational study of 1994.

Since 1988, observational studies of bicycle helmet usage in Sweden have been carried out annually by the VTI. The aim of the measurements is mainly to estimate the changes in bicycle helmet usage from one year to another. The measurements were carried out through observations of cyclists in 21 municipalities in Sweden the first two weeks in September. Measurements were concentrated on the following categories of cyclists: young children (up to 10 years), children in nine-year compulsory schools (7-15 years), adults cycling to and from work and cyclists on public cycle paths. The results of the measurements in 1994 shows that the wearing rate for children (up to 10 years) was 47% and for school pupils approximately 25%. was 47% and for school pupils approximately 25%. The wearing rate for adults (commuters) was 6% and for cyclists on public cycle paths 7%. The results shows a continuous increase in wearing rates for children up to 10 years, which breaks the trend compared with the stagnation in 1991-1992. A closer examination shows that the increase is found in the average-sized municipalities, which also applies to schoolchildren. Adults (commuters) and cyclists on public cycle paths, however, follow a slightly upward trend but remain on a low level (6% and 7%, respectively). A comparison between wearing rates in 1988, when the measurements started, and 1994 is also made. All cyclist categories have increased their wearing rate significantly, an increase from 20%-42% for children up to 10 years (an increase of 86%) and from 5%-25% for school pupils (an increase of 392%). The report also presents an estimate of total helmet usage by weighting the wearing rates of children and adults. From the available information, total wearing rates are estimated to be between 10-15% following a slightly upward trend. A general conclusion drawn from the measurements of 1994 is that there seems to been an upward trend in wearing rates among both children and adults, for children only in average-sized municipalities but for adults in both large and average-sized municipalities. (A)