Cycle Helmet Campaign: Government Scare Tactics

CTC, the national cyclists' organisation, claims that the Government is using dubious statistics in its newly-launched "teenage cycle safety" campaign, which greatly exaggerate the hazards involved in cycling. This finding adds to the concerns of cycling organisations that the Government is more interested in creating an impression of cycling as a "dangerous" activity, than promoting it for its health and other benefits.

On a website aimed at young teenage cyclists, the Department for Transport claims that "nearly 3000 cyclists between the ages of 12-16 were killed or seriously injured on the roads during 2001". The website has already attracted controversy for linking cycling with images of skull x-rays, suggesting hospitalisation and death, when the Government itself has objectives to promote cycling for its health and other benefits.

CTC believes that the real figure for the year, based on government's figures for 2001, is less than half the claimed total for deaths and serious injuries. Full details of all figures and their sources are listed in the notes below.

The website goes on to claim that "nearly 50% of injuries suffered by cyclists are to the head and face."

The research literature includes a wide variety of statistics. Many of these are not directly comparable because they use different definitions about what injury types are included in the statistic. However, statistics which include injuries to parts of the body not protected by a helmet are clearly not relevant to any discussion of their effectiveness. Estimates for head-only injuries mainly lie in the range 20-34%.

Another point of dispute relates to the site's "Quick Quiz" section. In response to the question, "When do most cycling accidents occur?", the answer given on the website is "When cyclists are turning across traffic." In fact, surveys show that the overwhelming majority of collisions occur in situations where the cyclist is going straight ahead.

Estimates in different surveys put this in the 72-78% range, whereas just 12% of collisions involved cyclists who were making turning movements.

Campaigns Co-ordinator Roger Geffen is clear about what CTC feel the government is trying to achieve with the 'skulls' helmet promotion campaign:

"These inflated figures and misleading statements make it clear that road safety officials want people to view cycling is a "dangerous" pastime. Yet this Government is supposed to be promoting cycling as a healthy and enjoyable option for transport and leisure, to be encouraged for its health, social and environmental benefits. There is a serious lack of joined up thinking here."

Three "skull x-rays and helmets" images will appear in several teen orientated lifestyle and leisure magazines from June onwards. They are also available on a Government website - www.cyclesense.net

A fully referenced paper and a one-page summary briefing are available on the CTC website - www.ctc.org.uk

- setting out why CTC believes helmet promotion campaigns are counter-productive to any strategy to promote increased cycle use and improved cycle safety, in accordance with Government policy.

David Harmon (CTC acting Media Officer) - 07884 002786 Roger Geffen (CTC Campaigns & Policy Manager) - 07775 595998

"In 2001 nearly 3000 cyclists between 12-16 were killed or seriously injured on the roads."

§ Reported KSI figures for children aged 12-15 = 388 (unpublished data from DfT Child Road Safety Action Plan)

§ Under-reporting of serious casualties = 61% (reported casualties 39% of total). (Mills P. Pedal cycle accidents: a hospital based study. TRL rpt 220, Berks, 1989.)

§ Estimated total KSI injuries for 12-15 year olds = 388 x 100/39 = 995 => Estimated KSI for 12-16 year olds = c1350.

There are a range of estimates for this. It is important to distinguish head or face injuries from those where the primary or only injury is to the head or face. It is unlikely that facial injuries would be prevented by helmets.

§ In a UK-based study of 12.6 million hospital admissions, 2.8% (35,056) were for injuries sustained while cycling. Head injuries was the primary diagnosis in 34% (11,985) of these, and 63% of these (7,531) were children aged <16. (Cook A & Sheikh A. Trends in serious head injuries among cyclists in England: analysis of routinely collected data. BMJ 2000;321:1055 (28 October)

§ A Canadian study found that, out of 9650 children hospitalised due to bicycle-related injuries, 34% (3426) sustained injuries to the head and face - the rest had other injuries. (Macpherson. A, et al. Impact of mandatory helmet legislation on bicycle-related head injuries in children: a population-based study. Pediatrics 2002 Nov;110(5):e60)

Q: When do most cycling accidents occur? A: When cyclists are turning across traffic.

§ "78% of pedal cyclists involved in injury accidents were going ahead at the time of the accident. 9% were turning right, 5% were overtaking and 3% were turning left. Among child cyclists (aged 0-15) the percentage who were turning right at the time of the injury accident rose to 11% with 3% turning left. The percentage of those overtaking fell to 2%. 78% were going ahead at the time of the accident." (DETR. Pedal cyclist casualties Great Britain 1996. DETR factsheet)

§ An earlier study found that the cyclist was going straight ahead at the time of an accident in 72% of cases. (Morgan. J. Cycling in Safety? Safety 91 conference proceedings.)