Observational Evaluation of Compliance With Traffic Regulations Among Helmeted and Nonhelmeted Bicyclists☆,☆☆,★
Section snippets
INTRODUCTION
Bicycling, both as a sport and a mode of transportation, is becoming increasingly popular. It is estimated that there are more than 100 million bicycles in the United States1, and more than 45% of the population ride at least on an occasional basis.2 According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 600,000 emergency department visits are made annually as a result of bicycle-related injuries, a figure that probably represents only one third of actual incidents.3
The most common
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data were collected during a total of 27 daylight hours on four separate days in March 1995, near the campus of a major university with an enrollment of more than 35,000 full-time students. A convenience sample of consecutive bicyclists was taken at three separate intersections marked with legal stop signs and located within a half mile of the campus. For each rider, the investigator (CF) recorded whether a helmet was in use, whether the bicyclist signaled a turn or a stop, and whether the
RESULTS
Data were recorded for 1,793 bicyclists during the study period; 157 (8.8%) were wearing helmets, and 1,636 (91.2%) were not. Fifty-one (32.5%) of the helmeted riders came to a complete stop, and 9 (5.7%) signaled a turn or stop on approach to the intersection. In the nonhelmeted group, 205 (12.2%) came to a complete stop, and 13 (.8%) used standard hand signals to indicate a turn or stop (Table).
Action Helmet (%) [n=157] No. (%)
DISCUSSION
Bicycle crashes are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in many countries, including the United States.5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 Many investigators have evaluated the epidemiology and demographics of bicycle-related trauma and demonstrated lower incidence and severity of head injuries among bicyclists who wear protective helmets.2, 7, 11, 20, 21, 23, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 These studies were focused mainly on patients who presented to EDs after bicycle crashes. Little is
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Cited by (24)
The impact of implementing a public bicycle share program on the likelihood of collisions and near misses in Montreal, Canada
2013, Preventive MedicineCitation Excerpt :We propose that helmet wearing is related to differential reporting of near misses or reverse causality. Helmet wearing cyclists, a group with higher income and education (Teschke et al., 2012), who also tend to have better compliance with traffic regulations (Farris et al., 1997; Lardelli-Claret et al., 2003), may overreport near misses, or alternately, non-helmet wearers may under report near misses. In the case of reverse causality, a near miss may frighten a cyclist into wearing a helmet.
The effectiveness of helmets in bicycle collisions with motor vehicles: A case-control study
2013, Accident Analysis and PreventionCitation Excerpt :Prior studies of cyclist use of helmets and head injury have not regularly examined proxies for risky cycling behaviour, which could introduce an element of confounding into case–control studies. It has been suggested that helmet wearers are more likely to obey traffic laws, wear fluorescent clothing and use lights at night (Robinson, 2007; Farris et al., 1997; McGuire and Smith, 2000), which may result in them being involved in less severe crashes than non-helmet wearers. Indeed, Lardelli-Claret et al. (2003) found that committing a traffic violation was significantly associated with a lower frequency of helmet use.
Bicycle-related injuries requiring hospitalization in the United Arab Emirates
2012, InjuryCitation Excerpt :A cost-benefit ratio of 29 for bicycle helmets has been reported.30 Helmet use in our community is extremely low when compared with others.10,17 In an observational study about the behaviour of bicyclists in Al-Ain city, only 0.5% of bicyclists were helmeted.2
Drivers overtaking bicyclists: Objective data on the effects of riding position, helmet use, vehicle type and apparent gender
2007, Accident Analysis and PreventionCitation Excerpt :If, on the other hand, drivers believe helmeted bicyclists are less likely to do something unexpected during overtaking, there is some justification for this. American surveys found a trend towards regular bicyclists wearing helmets more than casual riders (Rodgers, 2000), and that people who wear helmets are generally more likely to be interested in acting safely (Bolen et al., 1998; see also Farris et al., 1997; Walker, 2006). Findings from Spain tend also to concur (Lardelli-Claret et al., 2003).
Bicycle helmet legislation: Can we reach a consensus?
2007, Accident Analysis and PreventionCitation Excerpt :Evidence suggests that cyclists who choose to wear helmets may differ substantially from those who do not. Helmet wearers are more likely to ride in parks, playgrounds or bicycle paths than city streets (DiGuisseppi et al., 1989), obey traffic laws (Farris et al., 1997), wear fluorescent clothing and use lights at night (McGuire and Smith, 2000). These factors affect both the risk of colliding with motor vehicles, and impact speed when collisions occur.
Risks for bicycle-related injuries in Al Ain city, United Arab Emirates An observational study
2021, Medicine (United States)
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From the Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Health Services Research Program, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ.
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Reprint no.47/1/80264
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Address for reprints: Daniel W Spaite, MD Emergency Medicine 1501 North Campbell Avenue Tucson, AZ 87724 520-626-7957 Fax 520-626-2480