The introduction of compulsory bicycle helmet wearing in Victoria.

On 1 July 1990, Victoria was the first jurisdiction world-wide to introduce a compulsory bicycle helmet wearing regulation. The introduction of this new regulation represents the culmination of several years' concerted effort in encouraging cyclists to wear bicycle helmets on a voluntary basis and in developing and modifying an appropriate standard for bicycle helmets. This paper describes the introduction of the new regulation in the context of the bicycle accident situation in Victoria, the protective value of bicycle helmets, the evolving helmet standard and sustained promotional activities encouraging helmet use over the past decade.