Why do cyclists choose (not) to wear bicycle helmets?

Answer

In the Netherlands, no research into the general motives to wear or not to wear a bicycle helmet has been carried out. The evaluation of a bicycle helmet campaign in the Dutch province of Zeeland provides some information concerning children. It showed that, for both children and parents, safety is the most important reason to have children wear bicycle helmets [18] [19]. The most important reason for children to stop wearing helmets is that their peers do not wear helmets and the parents do not want their children to stand out. Other reasons for parents not to have their children wear helmets are that they think their child is careful and cycles safely enough, and the school route is thought to be safe.

International research identifies different reasons to wear or not to wear bicycle helmets. A legal requirement is an important reason for helmet use. Thus, the introduction of legislation considerably increased the share of helmeted cyclists, the actual increase varying from 37% to 91% across different countries (Australia, New Zealand, United States) [20]. In Finland, helmet use increased by approximately 20 percentage points after the introduction of legislation (without enforcement) [14].

Reasons not to wear a helmet are the lack of comfort (too hot or too cold) and/or the short trip length making a helmet ‘therefore unnecessary’ [21] [22]. A Dutch public support study among (road safety) organisations showed that measures encroaching on a sense of freedom are considered to be most controversial [23]. International research into the motives to wear or not to wear a helmet has mainly been done among children and youngsters [20] [21] [22] [24] [25] [26], but there appear to be few differences between children and adults. Both groups are less inclined to use a helmet for short rides and are influenced by helmet use among peers [21] [22]. Since cycling culture and helmet use abroad are different from culture and usage in the Netherlands, it remains unclear how these results could be translated to the Dutch situation.

Part of fact sheet

Bicycle helmets

A bicycle helmet is intended to protect cyclists against head and brain injuries when they are involved in crashes.

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