§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to reduce brain injuries among child cyclists. [115739]
§ Mr. HillThe road safety strategy, "Tomorrows Roads—Safer for Everyone", promotes the wearing of cycle helmets. They can provide significant protection against the severity of head injuries. This reinforces the advice contained in the "Highway Code", the "Highway Code for Young Road Users" and the Driving Standards Agency's "Road Code". We also promote their use in our "Cycle Smart" publicity material. Together with the Department of Health, we are supporting the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust project, the aim of which is to promote cycle helmet wearing among children and young people. We are monitoring the wearing rate in Great Britain (currently about 18 per cent.) and will continue to consider the option of compulsory wearing from time to time.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many child cyclists have been(a) injured and (b) killed on the roads in each of the past 10 years. [115773]
§ Mr. HillThe information requested is shown in the following table for the most recent 10 years for which data are available.
Child1 cyclist casualties in road accidents: Great Britain 1989–98 Year Killed Injured 1989 73 9,254 1990 59 8,661 1991 50 8,132 1992 48 7,677 1993 37 7,349 1994 42 8,033 1995 48 8,085 1996 54 8,163 1997 33 7,866 1998 32 6,898 1 Children aged 0–15