Statistics
According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a compendium of statistics and studies of bicycle-related injuries, non-helmeted bicyclists are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than helmeted bicyclists.
Injuries and Deaths
Approximately 540,000 bicyclists are admitted to hospitals or emergency rooms because of accidents each year. Of these, 67,000 suffer head injuries that could be prevented with helmet use. Head injuries account for more than 60 percent of bicycle-related deaths.
Helmet Protection
From 45 to 88 percent of bicycle-related head injuries could be prevented if cyclists wore helmets, according to the BHSI.
Typical Victim
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration studies have shown the typical bicycle rider who suffers a head injury is a sober male over the age of 16 riding without a helmet on a major road, near an intersection and during the summer months.
Prevention
While not a magic panacea for all brain and head injury prevention, helmets are a very effective means of avoiding traumatic brain or head injury, according to the NHTSA.
About The Author
A former Alaskan of 20 years, Eric Coufal now resides in California. He has written for publications including "Outside" and "Backpacker" and has written a book on life in small-town Alaska, "North by Southeast." Coufal attended Syracuse University and was a professional mountain guide and backcountry expedition leader for 18 years. He worked in Russia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey, Belize and much of Alaska.
