Helmets save cyclists’ lives, so let’s make it a law to wear them

As Singapore moves to promote cycling as a commuting option, more have come on board, be it for commuting purposes or for recreation. As such, the wearing of bicycle helmets should be mandated by law. Bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries, but many cyclists do not wear them.

The World Health Organization promotes the use of protective head gear on bikes as a strategy for preventing head injuries caused by falls and crashes. Head-gear use is also supported by numerous organisations in the United States and the United Kingdom.

A study in the US, which was done in the late 1980s and involved 235 people with head injuries who had sought emergency care at hospitals, found that riders with helmets had an 85 per cent reduced rate of head injury and an 88 per cent reduced rate of brain injury. The study concluded that helmets are effective in preventing head injury, especially for children.

We should think of helmets like seat belts in cars. It may be a bit of a hassle to wear them, but they are worth the trouble.

For children, it teaches the importance of safety and of being cognisant of the dangers around them. This is because if children sustain injuries, they could end up with a fear of riding a bicycle again.

A law requiring cyclists to wear helmets should not viewed as an attempt to control an individual’s life or inconvenience them, and it is not a case of the Government interfering with parenting.

It should be viewed as a safety tool and support for safe bicycling practices. A child may not want to wear a helmet to cycle to his friend’s house, but if he is aware of the law and the reasons for it, he will be more likely to abide by this simple practice to avoid serious injury.

Australia, Canada, Sweden, the US, Dubai, Finland, Japan, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain, among many other countries, have such a law, and I see no reason for Singapore not to have it. It is not worth risking serious and permanent injury just because we do not want to look a bit silly wearing a helmet while riding our bikes.