Why pedal cyclists should wear safety helmets.

The safety of motor vehicle occupants has been improved dramatically by legislation compelling the wearing of seat belts; protection of motor cyclists against head injury has followed the mandatory wearing of a safety helmet. Bicyclists have been relatively ignored, which is especially regrettable when two thirds of bicycle casualties are school children. Helmets are worn by approximately 25 per cent of adult bicyclists using arterial roads but by less than five per cent of school children.