§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bicyclists sustained serious head injuries in the United Kingdom in 1991, or the latest year for which statistics are available; what study he has made of the potential impact of a regulation requiring all bicyclists to wear crash helmets on this injury rate; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleProvisional figures for 1991 indicate that 239 cyclists were reported killed and 3,939 seriously injured in road accidents in Great Britain. The standard report form does not provide information on the part of the body affected. However research by the Transport Research Laboratory suggests that 53 per cent. of cyclists reporting to a hospital had injuries to the head and that had helmets been worn some 11 per cent. of serious injuries would not have occurred whilst a further 18 per cent. would have been only slight injuries. The sales of helmets have increased in recent years, particularly for children following the Department's television campaign in 1991. We shall continue to encourage this trend but have no plans to introduce compulsion.