Vulcan A P, Cameron M H, Watson W L
Accident Research Centre, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
World J Surg. 1992 May-Jun;16(3):389-97. doi: 10.1007/BF02104437.
On July 1, 1990, the legislation requiring wearing of an approved bicycle (safety) helmet by all pedal cyclists, unless exempted, came into effect in Victoria, Australia. The paper describes the more important activities which paved the way for this initiative and presents some preliminary information about the effect of the legislation on wearing rates and head injuries. Since 1980 there has been promotion of helmet use through bicycle education in schools, mass media publicity, support by professional organizations and community groups, bulk purchase schemes, and government rebates for helmet purchases. The Australian Standard for bicycle safety helmets has also been changed to meet community demands for lighter helmets with more provision for ventilation. There has been a steady increase in voluntary helmet use in Melbourne from 1983 to March 1990, as follows: 5% to 70% in primary school children; 2% to 20% in secondary students; and 27% to 40% in adults. In the period after the legislation, with relatively little enforcement, these three groups have shown substantial increases in helmet use rates, rising to 70-90% in most cases. Preliminary data show that the numbers of bicyclists with a head injury have dropped in the period since the legislation came into effect. The possible contributions to this reduction, of less bicycle use and lower risk of head injury in an accident, are discussed.
1990年7月1日，澳大利亚维多利亚州一项要求所有骑自行车的人（除非获得豁免）佩戴经批准的自行车（安全）头盔的立法开始生效。本文描述了为这一举措铺平道路的一些更重要的活动，并提供了一些关于该立法对佩戴率和头部受伤情况影响的初步信息。自1980年以来，通过学校的自行车安全教育、大众媒体宣传、专业组织和社区团体的支持、批量购买计划以及政府对购买头盔的补贴等方式来推广头盔的使用。澳大利亚自行车安全头盔标准也进行了修订，以满足社区对更轻便、通风性更好的头盔的需求。从1983年到1990年3月，墨尔本自愿佩戴头盔的人数稳步增加，情况如下：小学生从5%增至70%；中学生从2%增至20%；成年人从27%增至40%。在立法实施后的一段时间里，尽管执法力度相对较小，但这三个群体的头盔佩戴率都大幅上升，大多数情况下升至70 - 90%。初步数据显示，自立法生效以来，头部受伤的骑自行车者人数有所下降。文中讨论了自行车使用减少和事故中头部受伤风险降低对这一下降可能产生的影响。
