The Ohio Bicycle Injury Study

Abstract

To understand bicycle injuries and determine how to prevent them, we designed prospectively a descriptive study of bicycle-crash-related admissions in July 1993 to 10 major Ohio hospitals that admit child trauma patients. All patients studied were under the age of 16. In the 52 cases (38 male, 73%), impact with another vehicle accounted for 23 (44%) crashes. Of these crashes, only three (13%) were caused by definite motor vehicle operator error, and all 20 (87%) of the remaining motor vehicle-bicycle collisions were caused by bicyclist error, including 10 (43%) caused by bicyclists failing to yield properly at an intersection. Head injuries were the primary cause of morbidity in 29 (56%) cases. No child was wearing a bicycle helmet at the time of the crash. Efforts to reduce childhood morbidity from bicycle-related crashes should focus on helmet education and safe riding skills.

Barriers to Bicycle Helmet Use

“…2-8,10 -14,17,29,30,51,52 Head and traumatic brain injuries are a common sequela of bicycle accidents. 5,7,[11][12][13][14] Bicycle helmets help prevent the occurrence and severity of head, traumatic brain, and facial injuries. 20 -26,33 Despite this information, most people continue to bicycle without helmets.…”

“…Previous researchers have suggested that people do not purchase bicycle helmets because of expense or low income. 13 cational campaigns. 18,34 -36,47,55,56 In our survey, 4.6% of children, 4.8% of adolescents, and 4.3% of adults selected expense as a reason not to wear a bicycle helmet.…”

“…9,12-15 A majority of bicycle accidents occur in people younger than 21 years, 4 -6,8,12,13 and 30% of pediatric bicycle accidents occur while children are riding to and from school. 16 Head injuries occur in 31% to 65% of bicycle accidents, 5,7,8,[11][12][13][14] and up to 6.3% of bicycle accidents result in death. 5,7,17,18 Seventy percent to 86% of bicycle accident-related deaths are because of head injury.…”

“…Weaknesses of previous studies included narrow age range in the study group, 31,32,48,49 no information regarding barriers to helmet use in participants older than 18 years, 31,32,48,49 too few participants, 13,32 and not including participants from within the United States. 31,32 Ashbaugh et al 13 reported that the primary reason for not wearing a bicycle helmet was "never thought of it" (28%). Joshi et al 48 reported that the most common reason adolescents between 14 and 18 years old did not wear a bicycle helmet was "they are hot and uncomfortable" (81%).…”

Helmet-Wearing Practices and Barriers in Toronto Bike-Share Users: a Case-Control Study

“…Similar barriers to helmet use have been reported elsewhere. [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] Approaches to increasing helmet use Approaches to improving helmet use include consumer incentives, education surrounding helmet safety, and legislation. Consumer incentives can include helmet rentals, coupons, mailings at point of sale, discounts and promotion, and loaner helmets.…”