TY - JOUR PY - 2012// TI - Evaluation of New Zealand's bicycle helmet law JO - New Zealand medical journal A1 - Clarke, Colin F. SP - 60 EP - 69 VL - 125 IS - 1349 N2 - The New Zealand helmet law (all ages) came into effect on 1 January 1994. It followed Australian helmet laws, introduced in 1990-1992. Pre-law (in 1990) cyclist deaths were nearly a quarter of pedestrians in number, but in 2006-09, the equivalent figure was near to 50% when adjusted for changes to hours cycled and walked. From 1988-91 to 2003-07, cyclists' overall injury rate per hour increased by 20%. Dr Hillman, from the UK's Policy Studies Institute, calculated that life years gained by cycling outweighed life years lost in accidents by 20 times. For the period 1989-1990 to 2006-2009, New Zealand survey data showed that average hours cycled per person reduced by 51%. This evaluation finds the helmet law has failed in aspects of promoting cycling, safety, health, accident compensation, environmental issues and civil liberties.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0028-8446 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -