HC Deb 29 March 2004 vol 419 c1160W
Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to bring forward legislation to make the wearing of bicycle helmets compulsory on(a) A roads, (b) B roads and (c) on public footpaths. [163377]

Mr. Jamieson

Our position on compulsion has been that at current wearing rates it would cause enforcement difficulties and could have an effect on cycling levels. But the Government will keep its policies in this as in all areas under review in the light of discussion in Parliament and elsewhere.

Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek information about the advantages and disadvantages of compulsory cycle helmet use in(a) the USA, (b) Australia, (c) Canada and (d) New Zealand. [163408]

Mr. Jamieson

We have commissioned research which, while not the main focus, has considered the effect of compulsion overseas. The Transport Research Laboratory report on cycle helmet wearing relating to 1999 included a literature review of the effects of compulsion, in association with promotional initiatives. overseas. Case studies showed that helmet wearing increased substantially in the USA and Australia. In Australia there was a reported 70 per cent. decrease in cyclist head injuries. The review did not contain any information on the implications for cycling levels.

An independent review commissioned by the Department on the effectiveness of cycle helmets, and published at the end of November 2002, conducted a further literature review on the effect of compulsion overseas. It found that there was a significant rise in the wearing rate following compulsion in provinces and states in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. There was also a known marked decrease in casualties, confirmed for Australia (70 per cent.), and also New Zealand (30 per cent.). However only Australia monitored the cycling level pre and post legislation and they saw a drop in the amount of cycling following compulsion. The conclusion was that compulsion significantly raises the wearing rate of helmets and does reduce casualties. However this is at the expense of lowering the amount of cycling.