Numbers from Denmark:
In serious bike accidents reported to the police:
16% serious head injuries among cyclists wearing helmet
33% if not wearing helmet
Helmet use in Denmark is voluntary, but school kids have the highest percentage of use (e.g., 89% in 2015 for kids aged 6-9, 70% for 10-12 and 35% for 12+).
From 2004-2015 percentage of head injuries have dropped from 26% to 17% for the age group 0-14. For people aged 15 and above where the helmet use percentage is lower, the drop is only 24% to 22%.
I think it shows that helmet use has value if you’re involved in an accident.
I ride with a helmet 100% of the time, but I am against mandatory helmet use as it will very likely reduce the number of peoples on bikes (studies from Denmark show 16% of current cyclists will bike less or never if helmet was mandatory). This will ultimately reduce my safety (less investment in cyclist infrastructure; less visibility).
Sweden has had mandatory helmet use for school kids 0-15 since 2005, but Denmark actually has a higher helmet use percentage for the same age group!
Edit: my son crashed on the trails on his MTB and broke his helmet (and lost some teeth). It is a no-brainer to wear helmet for higher risk activities than cycling to school or work.
In serious bike accidents reported to the police:
16% serious head injuries among cyclists wearing helmet
33% if not wearing helmet
Helmet use in Denmark is voluntary, but school kids have the highest percentage of use (e.g., 89% in 2015 for kids aged 6-9, 70% for 10-12 and 35% for 12+).
From 2004-2015 percentage of head injuries have dropped from 26% to 17% for the age group 0-14. For people aged 15 and above where the helmet use percentage is lower, the drop is only 24% to 22%.
I think it shows that helmet use has value if you’re involved in an accident.
I ride with a helmet 100% of the time, but I am against mandatory helmet use as it will very likely reduce the number of peoples on bikes (studies from Denmark show 16% of current cyclists will bike less or never if helmet was mandatory). This will ultimately reduce my safety (less investment in cyclist infrastructure; less visibility).
Sweden has had mandatory helmet use for school kids 0-15 since 2005, but Denmark actually has a higher helmet use percentage for the same age group!
Edit: my son crashed on the trails on his MTB and broke his helmet (and lost some teeth). It is a no-brainer to wear helmet for higher risk activities than cycling to school or work.