Proposed Protective Headgear for Young Cyclists Legislative Competence Order

Joyce Watson

Pre-ballot Information: Outline Proposed Legislative Competence Order

Outline of proposed Order

Field 9 (health and health services) of Part 1 of schedule 5 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 is to be amended as follows:

At the end of Field 9 health and health services insert: “Provision imposing requirement to make cycle helmet wearing for under 16 year olds compulsory.”

Pre-ballot Information: Explanatory Memorandum

Policy Objectives of the Proposed Order

To prevent injury and alleviate the risk of disability and/or mental disorder to young cyclists in Wales.

In 2005 there were 431 pedal cyclist casualties on Welsh roads. 32 per cent of these were in the 8-15 age group. However, research undertaken by the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust Research shows that up to 85 per cent of all accidents occur off road, so it is estimated that approximately 120 - or the equivalent of a primary school of children - are injured in cycling accidents in Wales every year. Research undertaken by Headway shows that 70 per cent of all pedal cycle fatalities are due to head injuries and in the event of an accident, standard approved cycle helmets are proven to be effective in reducing head injuries in cycle related accidents by 85 per cent.

In every other country and state where bicycle helmet legislation has been implemented there have been significant and immediate reductions in the number of associated head injuries and deaths. For example, when comparing the figures from the year previous to the introduction of the legislation and those in the first year of the legislation, there was a 70 per cent reduction in head injury admissions and deaths in Victoria, Australia.

There is clear support for introducing legislation requiring children to wear protective headgear when cycling. A recent poll of 9,000 adults carried out by MyVoice polling organisation found that 80 per cent of adults thought that children should wear cycle helmets, and 70 per cent of young people agreed.