Shocking new statistics about teen cycling reveal that high numbers of young people are choosing to cycle without a helmet.
Despite high profile media campaigns to raise safety awareness, 50% of Teens say they never wear a cycle helmet, and up to 94% don’t bother wearing helmets on parks or minor roads.
There is also growing evidence of alcohol being a factor in teenage bike accidents.
Police Warning
UK Police have issued a bike accidents warning to young people. In a statement to the press, a police spokesperson urged young people to put their safety first.
PC Tony Barrios, casualty reduction officer for Cambridgeshire police, said: “There is no doubt that helmets can save lives and it is a relatively simple step to take, which could avoid a terrible tragedy.”
The media are helping raise awareness about teenage bike accidents. Evening Telegraph reporters photographed sixteen young cyclists riding without a helmet over a one hour period.
The paper also featured photographs of a nine-year-old cyclist who was nearly killed on the 1st of July.
The youngster was hit by a car and was not wearing his helmet. He suffered from serious head injury and broken bones. The boy’s family felt that pictures of their son’s bike crash might encourage youngsters to think about their own safety.
Parents can Reduce Bike Accidents
Police stressed the important role that parents can play in reducing bike accidents. Their spokesperson urged parents to “set an example for their children by wearing a helmet themselves.”
Child Accident Prevention charities agree, and offered advice to help parents teach their children to ride safely:
· Insist that children wear their helmet – and impose penalties (grounding, extra chores) for children who break safety rules.
· Let children choose their own helmet – one with a favourite TV character, or a pretty design. Children who like their helmet are more likely to wear it.
· Explain why cycle helmets are important and how they keep children safe in bike accidents.
· Praise children when they put their helmet on – and tell them they look good wearing it. Peer pressure about looking ‘uncool’ in cycle helmets is the main reason that children refuse to wear them.
Bike accidents in the UK are a leading cause of child injury. In a serious cycle crash helmets increase survival rates by up to 30%. Experts hope the safety campaign will save lives and reduce the number of fatal bike accidents.
