PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - G B Rodgers TI - Effects of state helmet laws on bicycle helmet use by children and adolescents AID - 10.1136/ip.8.1.42 DP - 2002 Mar 01 TA - Injury Prevention PG - 42--46 VI - 8 IP - 1 4099 - http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/8/1/42.short 4100 - http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/8/1/42.full SO - Inj Prev2002 Mar 01; 8 AB - Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of state helmet laws in increasing the use of bicycle helmets by children and adolescents under age 16. Setting: United States. Methods: A cross sectional study of factors associated with the likelihood of helmet use by children and adolescents. Data were derived from a national random digit dial telephone survey of bicycle riders. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to quantify the independent effect of the state helmet laws on helmet use. Results: Helmet use was systematically related to the presence of state helmet laws (odds ratio 2.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29 to 5.44). The increase in the average probability of helmet use attributable to state helmet laws was 18.4% (95% CI 17.8% to 19.0%). Conclusions: State helmet laws significantly increase helmet use by children and play an important part in any comprehensive effort designed to achieve this goal.