Bicycles have long been a popular mode of transportation in cities throughout Colorado. They have also been popular for daily exercise routines for people of all ages and skill levels. Most people ride their bicycle wearing a helmet in order to protect themselves if involved in an accident. Today, we will take a look at the statistics regarding bike helmet use and fatal accidents.
The most recent statistics available from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding bicycle helmets were released in 2017 for the year 2015. In 2015, there were 818 bicyclists killed on the roads across the country, which accounts for a 12.2 percent increase from 2014 and the highest increase since 1995. There were also 45,000 bicyclists injured across the country in 2015, which is a decrease by 10 percent from 2014.
Of the 818 people who died in 2015, 37 of the riders were 14 and under. Of the fatal crashes, 70 percent occurred in urban areas, 61 percent did not occur in an intersection and 3 percent occurred in bike lanes. Of the 818 people who died in a bicycle accident in 2015, 442 were not wearing helmets, 142 were wearing helmets and the rest were categorized as not known.
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons released the following data for the number of head injuries treated at hospitals across the country as of 2009. The highest activity is that of cycling at 85,389 incidents. That is almost double the number of football incidents at 46,948.
The use of a bicycle helmet is important to riders of all ages. Even if you are involved in an accident and the helmet is destroyed, it could prevent you from serious brain injuries.