Bicycle helmet laws by country explained

The wearing of bicycle helmets and attitudes towards their use vary around the world. The effects of compulsory use of helmets are disputed[1] (see Bicycle helmet laws). Four countries (Argentina, Cyprus,[2] Australia, and New Zealand) currently both require and enforce universal use of helmets by cyclists. Partial rules apply in some other jurisdictions, such as only for children (e.g. in France), in certain states or sub-national divisions (e.g. British Columbia in Canada), or under other limited conditions.[3]

History

Australia was the first country to enact mandatory bicycle helmet use for all cyclists.[4] Mexico City has had mandatory cycle helmet laws repealed, and in Italy the Federazione Italiana Amici della Bicicletta managed to block a proposed helmet law.[5] Cycling UK, the largest cycling advocacy organisation in the UK, has opposed mandatory wearing of helmets on the grounds that it should be a personal choice.[6] In 2002 an attempt was made to introduce bicycle helmet legislation in Poland but it was opposed by cyclists' organisations.[7]

Legislation by country

Bicycle helmet legislation
CountryAgeLast changeNotes
ArgentinaAll2004Mandatory.[8] Fines are collected by the provinces.
AustraliaAll1990–92Compulsory for all ages in public spaces except for those older than 17 in the Northern Territory that are not using car carriageways (e.g: footpaths, cycle paths, trails).[9]

See main article: Bicycle helmets in Australia.

Austria122011[10]
BelgiumNone[11]
BrazilNone1997
CanadaLegislation on the use of bicycle helmets originates from provincial and territorial legislation. As a result, laws surrounding the use of bicycle helmets varies across the provinces and territories of Canada.

The use of bicycle helmets is compulsory in the provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.[12] In the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, the use of helmets is mandatory for cyclists under the age of 18 years.[13] [14] [15] [16]

Use of a helmet is not mandatory in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.[17]

ChileAll2009Mandatory in urban zones and suggested in rural zones [18]
Costa RicaAll2012[19] [20]
Croatia162011Mandatory for children below 16 only if riding on a road.[21]
CyprusAll2022Mandatory for everyone. [22]
Czech Republic182006[23]
DenmarkNone
Estonia162011[24]
FinlandNone2003[25] Not required, but recommended.[26]
France122017Mandatory for children below 12 year old (passenger or driver), fines apply [27]
GermanyNone
Hong KongNoneIn 2009, Transport Secretary announced that government had no intention of introducing mandatory helmet law, based partly on "international views that a mandatory requirement may lead to a reduction in cycling activities."[28]
HungaryNone2010Wearing a helmet increases the speed limit for bicycles outside populated areas from 40 km/h to 50 km/h.[29]
Iceland151998Iceland has considered – but not pursued – extending its helmet law to adults.[30] [31]
IndiaNone
IrelandNone[32]
NoneCyclists "should" wear helmets, but they are not compulsory.[33]
Israel182011Starting from 2011, only applies under 18 years of age, in interurban ways and during sport events.[34]
ItalyNone
JapanAll2023Enacted in 2008, Article 63-11 of the Road Traffic Act requires that persons responsible for children under 13 must ensure that the children wear helmets. However, there is no penalty associated with this article.[35] Starting April 1, 2023, all individuals must make a "duty of effort" to wear a helmet. There is no penalty for not wearing a helmet.[36] [37]
132014Failure to comply with the Law could result in a fine being issued.[38]
Latvia122014
Malta102004Bicycles: Only under 10 year olds riding as passengers on an adult's bicycle are required to wear a helmet.[39]
MexicoNone2010Mexico City repealed mandatory helmet laws in 2010.
NamibiaAll[40]
New ZealandAll1993

See main article: Bicycle helmets in New Zealand.

NetherlandsNone[41]
NorwayNone[42]
PhilippinesNone2021No requirement nationwide, but some cities such as Quezon City have helmet mandate laws, with non-compliance punishable with fines.[43]
PolandNone
PortugalNone2013No requirement
None2014No requirement (except for users of electric power-assisted bicycles with more than 250W engine or electric powered speed excess 25 km/h)[44]
SingaporeAll2018Since 2018, all cyclists (power-assisted or not) must wear a helmet.
Slovakia15Only cyclists under 15 years of age (no fines apply)[45]
Slovenia152000
South AfricaAll2004 Compulsory for all cyclists but in practice the law is not enforced. No fine had been agreed.[46]
132006
SpainAll (interurban roads) /
16 (urban areas)
2015In urban areas helmet is only required for under 16 years old riders (Art. 47 of "Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor y Seguridad Vial")[47]

The city of Mollet del Vallès in Catalonia has voted and approved in 2020 mandatory helmet to ride a bicycle for anyone of any age on local bylaw, quote of Art. 18 "Those who ride a bicycle on urban streets in Mollet del Vallès will have to use a helmet, whether they are older than legal age or minor."[48]

Sweden152005No penalty for children cycling alone who do not obey the law. Also applies to Segway use.[49]
SwitzerlandNone
TogoAll2013Mandatory helmet policy was enacted by the National Assembly of Togo, since 1975 but the enforcement by the National Police only started in Jun 2013 upon enactment of a new road code.[50] [51]
All2010Dubai[52]
UkraineNone
United KingdomNone[53]
United States

See main article: Bicycle helmets in the United States.

UruguayNone2015[54]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Zee. Renate van der. 2015-10-12. Should bike helmets be compulsory? Lessons from Seattle and Amsterdam. en-GB. The Guardian. 2020-06-02. 0261-3077.
  2. Web site: House of Representatives - Cyprus . House of Representatives - Cyprus .
  3. Web site: Bicycle Helmet Laws. Helmets.org. 9 November 2021.
  4. Curnow, W. J. "Bicycle Helmets: A Scientific Evaluation" in Book: Anton De Smet. Transportation Accident Analysis and Prevention. 2008. Nova Science Publishers. Commack, N.Y. 978-1-60456-288-0.
  5. Web site: Examples of successful campaigns. European Cyclists Federation. 8 January 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110622073912/http://www.ecf.com/3677_1. 22 June 2011.
  6. Web site: CTC policy handbook . March 2004 . Cyclists' Touring Club . 8 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110519185135/http://ctc.org.uk/resources/Campaigns/PolicyHandbook_March_2004.doc . 19 May 2011 .
  7. Book: Avenoso. Antonio. Beckmann. Jörg. The Safety of Vulnerable Road Users in the Southern, Eastern and Central European Countries (The "SEC Belt"). 2005. European Transport Safety Council. Brussels. 90-76024-18-9. 2011-01-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20110720161533/http://www.etsc.eu/documents/The%20Safety%20of%20Vulnerable%20Road%20Users%20in%20the%20Southern,%20Eastern%20and%20Central%20European%20Countries%20(The%20SEC%20Belt).pdf. 2011-07-20. dead.
  8. Web site: National Law 24,449 - Article 40 bis . InfoLEG.
  9. Web site: Bicycle safety. Northern Territory. Government. 20 November 2019. Nt.gov.au. 9 November 2021.
  10. Web site: Kids Obliged to Wear Helmet in Austria. Bike-eu.com. 3 October 2011 . 9 November 2021.
  11. Web site: Fietshelm . Fietsersbond.be. 24 November 2015 . 9 November 2021.
  12. Web site: Bicycle Helmets | Service NL . www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150405072134/http://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/bikehelmet/index.html . 5 April 2015 . dead.
  13. Web site: Manitoba Laws. Justice. Manitoba. web2.gov.mb.ca. en. 2016-06-08.
  14. Web site: Bike Safety Injury Prevention Healthy Living and Healthy Populations Manitoba Healthy Living and Seniors Province of Manitoba. www.gov.mb.ca. 2016-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20160616160644/http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthyliving/hlp/bikesafety/. 2016-06-16. dead.
  15. Web site: Government of Ontario Ministry of Transportation . Bicycle Safety . Mto.gov.on.ca . 7 May 2020 . en . All bicycle riders under the age of 18 are required to wear an approved bicycle helmet when travelling on any public road..
  16. Web site: Fewer kids died after Ont. adopted bike helmet law: research. Cbc.ca. 9 November 2021.
  17. News: City council decides unanimously against helmet proposal . 17 April 2007 . . 8 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090618102347/http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/story.html?id=d91a1ce7-5905-4cb0-bf6c-472d35d4959a&k=11125 . 18 June 2009 .
  18. Web site: Ley de Tránsito | Movimiento Furiosos Ciclistas . www.furiosos.cl . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140316050500/http://www.furiosos.cl/documentos/ley-de-transito/ . 16 March 2014 . dead.
  19. Web site: Obligaciones de los ciclistas (Articulo #119). Nuevaleydetransito.com. 2019-03-29.
  20. Web site: Nº 9078 LEY DE TRÁNSITO POR VÍAS PÚBLICAS TERRESTRES Y SEGURIDAD VIAL, ARTÍCULO 119. -Obligaciones de los ciclistas. 26 October 2012. 29 March 2019.
  21. Web site: Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o sigurnosti prometa na cestama. 1 July 2011. Narodne Novine. 28 July 2019.
  22. Web site: Helmet wearing mandatory for cyclists. February 2023 .
  23. Web site: Helmet laws: Czech Republic. Cyclehelmets.org. 9 November 2021.
  24. Web site: Traffic Act–Riigi Teataja. Riigiteataja.ee. 9 November 2021.
  25. Web site: FINLEX ® - Ajantasainen lainsäädäntö: Kumottu säädös Tieliikennelaki (kumottu) 267/1981. Edita Publishing. Oy. Finlex.fi. 9 November 2021.
  26. Web site: FINLEX ® - Hallituksen esitykset: HE 103/2002. Finlex.fi. 9 November 2021.
  27. Web site: Article R431-1-3Zwebsite=Legifrance.gouv.fr. 9 November 2021.
  28. Web site: (Hong Kong) Written reply to Legco by Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, 4 June 2008. Thb.gov.hk. 9 November 2021.
  29. Web site: 1/1975. (II. 5.) KPM-BM együttes rendelet a közúti közlekedés szabályairól - Hatályos Jogszabályok Gyűjteménye. Wolters Kluwer Hungary. Kft. Net.jogtar.hu. 9 November 2021.
  30. Web site: Iceland. Cyclehelmets.org. 9 November 2021.
  31. Web site: Icelandic Cyclist Federation. Islandia.is. 9 November 2021.
  32. News: Donohoe rules out making cycle helmets compulsory. McGreevy. Ronan. 15 October 2015. The Irish Times. 21 July 2016.
  33. Web site: The Manx Highway Code. Isle of Man Government. 23. 2 May 2019.
  34. Web site: חוק לתיקון פקודת התעבורה)מס' 99,)התשע"א-201. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204602/http://www.knesset.gov.il/laws/data/law/2310/2310_7.pdf. 9 November 2021. 2016-03-04.
  35. Web site: Road Traffic Act . Japanese Law Translation . 7 July 2021.
  36. Web site: Helmets to become mandatory for all cyclists in Japan from April 2023 . The Mainichi . 21 December 2022 . 18 August 2024.
  37. Web site: Bicycle helmets are now 'mandatory' in Japan. Here's how people feel about that. . The Japan Times . 1 April 2023 . 18 August 2024.
  38. Web site: Jersey cycle helmet law . www.gov.je . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006181129/http://www.gov.je/Environment/GreenerLifestyles/GreenerTravel/CyclingWalking/Pages/CycleHelmets.aspx . 6 October 2014 . dead.
  39. Web site: Archived copy . www.justiceservices.gov.mt . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160703191006/http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=9209 . 3 July 2016 . dead.
  40. Web site: National Fine List. Nampol.gov.na. 9 November 2021.
  41. Web site: Traffic rules & regulations for cyclists. Holland-cycling.com. 9 November 2021.
  42. Web site: Norwegian bicycle rules. www.uio.no. 1 July 2023.
  43. The Bicycle Riders Helmet Ordinance of Quezon City . ORD. 2942 . June 12, 2020.
  44. Web site: Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of 23.10.1993 N 1090 (as amended on 23.07.2016). Consultant.ru. 9 November 2021.
  45. Web site: What changes does the law on road transport put into place?. 26 June 2019. Spectator.sme.sk. 9 November 2021.
  46. Web site: Cycling Helmets and Cycling Safety . 9 November 2021 . Arrivealive.co.za.
  47. Web site: BOE-A-2015-11722 Real Decreto Legislativo 6/2015, de 30 de octubre, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor y Seguridad Vial.. Boe.es. 9 November 2021.
  48. Web site: Ordenança de circulació de vehicles i vianants | Ajuntament de Mollet del Vallès | Normativa local. Cercador d'Informació i Documentació Oficials (CIDO) - Diputació de Barcelona. 25 December 1998 . 9 November 2021.
  49. Web site: Helmet laws: Sweden. Cyclehelmets.org. 9 November 2021.
  50. Web site: Legitogo. Legitogo.gouv.tg. 9 November 2021.
  51. Web site: Togo : Le port du casque et la ceinture de sécurité désormais obligatoire - Actualité du Togo, Information de Lomé . www.lomeinfos.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094457/http://www.lomeinfos.com/2013/11/togo-le-port-du-casque-et-la-ceinture-de-securite-desormais-obligatoire/ . 4 March 2016 . dead.
  52. Web site: Bicycle Helmet Laws. 5 January 2011. Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute. 8 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20101218163912/http://helmets.org/mandator.htm. 18 December 2010 . live.
  53. Web site: The Highway Code - Rules for cyclists (59 to 82) - Guidance - GOV.UK .
  54. News: Lo que tiene que saber si va a salir a andar en bicicleta. El Observador. 2017-04-19. es-uy.