The Health Impact of Mandatory Bicycle Helmet Laws

Risk Analysis, 2012

10 Pages Posted: 14 Jul 2009 Last revised: 5 Dec 2022

See all articles by Piet De Jong

Piet De Jong

Macquarie University - Department of Applied Finance and Actuarial Studies; Financial Research Network (FIRN); Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School

Date Written: February 24, 2010

Abstract

This article seeks to answer the question whether mandatory bicycle helmet laws deliver a net societal health benefit. The question is addressed using a simple model. The model recognizes a single health benefit -- reduced head injuries, and a single health cost -- increased morbidity due to foregone exercise from reduced cycling. Using estimates suggested in the literature of the effectiveness of helmets, the health benefits of cycling, head injury rates, and reductions in cycling, leads to the following conclusions. In jurisdictions where cycling is safe, a helmet law is likely to have a large unintended negative health impact. In jurisdiction where cycling is relatively unsafe, helmets will do little to make it safer and a helmet law, under relatively extreme assumptions may make a small positive contribution to net societal health. The model serves to focus the mandatory bicycle helmet law debate on overall health.

Keywords: Bicycling, helmets, cost benefit analysis

Suggested Citation

De Jong, Piet, The Health Impact of Mandatory Bicycle Helmet Laws (February 24, 2010). Risk Analysis, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1368064 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1368064

Piet De Jong (Contact Author)

Macquarie University - Department of Applied Finance and Actuarial Studies ( email )

Sydney, New South Wales
Australia

Financial Research Network (FIRN)

C/- University of Queensland Business School
St Lucia, 4071 Brisbane
Queensland
Australia

HOME PAGE: http://www.firn.org.au

Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School ( email )

New South Wales 2109
Australia

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