Evaluation of a Statewide Bicycle Helmet Law Via Multiple Measures of Helmet Use

doi:10.1001/archpedi.1997.02170380063010

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Vol. 151 No. 1, January 1997

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Evaluation of a Statewide Bicycle Helmet Law Via Multiple Measures of Helmet Use

Hanyu Ni, PhD; Jeffrey J. Sacks, MD, MPH; Lita Curtis, MPH; Paul R. Cieslak, MD; Katrina Hedberg, MD, MPH

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151(1):59-65.

Abstract

Objectives
To evaluate an Oregon law requiring bicyclists younger than16 years to wear a helmet and to compare methods of measuringhelmet use.

Design
Four prelaw and postlaw statewide helmet use surveys: (1) statewideobservations, (2) middle school observations, (3) classroomself-report surveys, and (4) a statewide adult telephone survey.

Setting
Oregon.

Subjects
Statewide observations, 3313 child bicyclists at 13 sites; middleschool observations, 995 child bicyclists at 33 randomly selectedmiddle schools; classroom self-report surveys, fourth, sixth,and eighth graders in 448 classrooms (ie, 8955 students) beforethe law was effected and 456 classrooms (ie, 9811 students)after the law was effected in 66 randomly selected schools;and statewide telephone survey, 1219 randomly called parentsof 1437 children younger than 16 years.

Main Outcome Measures
Prelaw and postlaw helmet use and ownership and knowledge andopinion about the law.

Results
Observed helmet use among youth was 24.5% before the law waseffected and 49.3% after the law was effected. School-observeduse increased from 20.4% to 56.1%. Classroom survey self-reported"always" use of helmets increased from 14.7% to 39.4%; reporteduse on the day of the survey increased from 25.8% to 76.0%.Telephone survey–reported "always" helmet use increasedfrom 36.8% to 65.7%. Younger children and girls were more likelyto use helmets. Most students (ie, 87.8%) and parents (ie, 95.4%)knew about the law; however, only 42.6% of children thoughtthe law was a good idea.

Conclusions
We conclude that (1) the law increased helmet use; (2) althoughuse estimates differ, all helmet surveys showed similar degreesof prelaw and postlaw change; and (3) half of child bicyclistsare still not wearing helmets, indicating a need for additionalpromotion of helmet wearing. Laws seem to be an effective wayto increase helmet use.

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:59-65

Author Affiliations

From the Center for Disease Prevention and Epidemiology, Oregon Health Division, Department of Human Resources, Portland (Drs Ni, Cieslak, and Hedberg and Ms Curtis); and the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga (Dr Sacks).

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