Riding a bicycle can be a lot of fun. It can be a means of transportation, physical fitness and racing. However, bicycle riding poses many risks and should always be done correctly.
Crash Statistics
- Between 1988 and 1992, "an average of 247 traumatic brain injury deaths and 140,000 brain injuries among people under age 20 were related to bicycle crashes each year in the U.S." As many as 184 deaths and 116,000 brain injuries might have been prevented annually if these riders had worn helmets.
- About 900 bicycle riders are killed in the U.S. every year, usually in collisions with cars, and 75% of them die of brain injuries.
- Ninety-six percent of bicyclists killed in 1996 were reportedly not wearing helmets.
- Medical research shows that 88 % of cyclists' brain injuries can be prevented by a bicycle helmet.
- Research studies have shown that the use of bicycle helmets reduces the risk of brain injuries by 74 to 88%.
- Universal use of helmets could prevent one death every day and one brain injury every four minutes.
Source: Brain Injury Association