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On this Page:

• Why Kids Are at Risk:
• Protecting Your Family:
• Practice Bike Safety:
• Protecting Communities:
• What SAFE KIDS is doing:
• How you can help:
• Frequently Asked Questions:

Head injury is the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes and is the most important determinant of death and permanent disability. The single most effective way to reduce head injury from bicycle crashes is to wear a helmet. In fact, riders who don't wear helmets are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than riders who do. Unfortunately, national estimates report that helmet use among child bicyclists ranges from 15 to 25 percent. It is lowest among children ages 11 to 14.

Collisions with motor vehicles are another significant risk factor. It is estimated that motor vehicle collisions account for nearly 90 percent of all bicycle-related deaths. Collision with a motor vehicle increases the risk of death, severity of injury, and probability of head injury.

Other risk factors:

• Children are more likely to die from motor vehicle-related bicycle injuries in the summer and in the late afternoon than at other times. They are much more likely to die in crashes in the middle of the street, on bike paths or on the sides of streets than at intersections.
• Children are four times more likely to be injured when riding in low light (nighttime, dawn or dusk) than in daylight.
• Children are more likely to be injured on residential streets close to home. The typical bicycle/motor vehicle crash occurs within one mile of the bicyclist's home; nearly 60 percent of all childhood bicycle-related deaths occur on minor roads.
• Children under age 10 are more at risk. They are more likely to be seriously injured and suffer a higher proportion of head injuries.
• Children ages 4 and under are more likely than older children to be injured around the home (driveway, garage, yard).
• Unfortunately, a child's behavior is often a risk factor. Most childhood bicycle-related fatalities are associated with behaviors such as riding into a street without stopping, turning left or swerving into traffic coming from behind, running a stop sign or riding against the flow of traffic.
   

• STOP before riding out into traffic from a driveway, sidewalk, alley, or parking lot. LOOK left, right, and left again before entering a street. When there's no traffic. ENTER roadway.
• GO WITH THE FLOW: Ride WITH traffic.  RIDE on the right with traffic, not against it.  Ride as far to the right as possible.
• LEARN THE RULES OFT THE ROAD: Obey traffic laws.  Respect traffic signals.  Stop at all stop signs and red lights.  (Kids under 12 should walk, not ride bikes through busy intersections.)

  PRACTICE WITH YOUR CHILDREN

• LOOK BACK and YIELD to traffic coming from behind before turning left at intersections.
• PROTECT YOUR HEAD by wearing a helmet. Look for helmets that meet the standards of American National Standards Institute (AN51) or the Snell Memorial Foundation (SNELL). Ask your parents or Someone at your local bike shop to check your helmet for proper fit.
• AVOID BIKING AT NIGHT  If riding at dusk, dawn or in the evening is unavoidable, wear retroreflective material on clothing or bike, and use lights on the bike.  SEE AND BE SEEN : Wear bright colors and reflective stripes.
• Use appropriate hand signals.
• If you have to ride when it's getting dark use reflectors and lights.
• STAY ALERT: keep a lookout for things in your path.
• Restrict cycling to sidewalks, paths and driveways until children can show how well they ride and observe basic rules of the road (usually around age 9).
• CHECK FOR TRAFFIC: Be aware of traffic around you. (intersections, driveways).
• MAKE SURE YOUR BIKE IS READY:
  • Does your bicycle fit you?  Don't ride a bike that is too big for you.
  • Can you stop it?  Check brakes before riding.
  • Check your wheels:  "Quick release" wheels should be fastened tight.
     

The day you buy your child his first "big kid's" bike. The day you remove the training wheels and watch him pedal away on his own. The day he heads to his friend's house without asking you for a ride. These are milestones in both of your lives. So much more than a toy, a bicycle represents independence for your children.

Unfortunately, bicycles are more than a toy in another sense, too: they are associated with more childhood injuries than any consumer product except the automobile. In 1998 alone, 203 children ages 14 and under died in bicycle-related crashes and nearly 362,000 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries.

That's why it's so important to teach your kids bike safety as they enjoy their increased independence. You can greatly reduce your children's risk of injury and death simply by setting some limits. A single rule -- wear a helmet -- can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent. Explore the links below to learn more.

A bicycle is a vehicle, not a toy. Riding a bike ? especially around traffic -- is an important responsibility.

Finally, proper bike fit and maintenance can help prevent injuries. Your child's feet should reach the ground while sitting on the bike seat. Make sure the reflectors are secure, brakes work properly, gears shift smoothly, and tires are tightly secured and properly inflated.

Protecting Communities:

Helmets save lives ? but they also save the country money. Every dollar spent on a bike helmet saves society $30. If 85 percent of young cyclists wore their helmets for a year, the lifetime medical cost savings could total between $109 million and $142 million.

Bicycle education programs and legislation are effective ways to increase helmet use and reduce bicycle-related death and injury among children covered by the law. One recent study reported that the rate of bike helmet use by children ages 14 and under was 58 percent greater in a county with a comprehensive bike helmet law than in a similar county with a less comprehensive law.

As of January 2001, 17 states, the District of Columbia and numerous localities have enacted some form of bike helmet legislation, most of which cover only young riders. Use the tool to the right to read about the laws in your state.

What SAFE KIDS is doing:

The National SAFE KIDS Campaign has a long-standing partnership with Bell Sports to provide discounted bike helmets to families who need them. Since the Campaign's inception, SAFE KIDS coalitions have distributed over 1 million helmets. Coalitions also advocate for helmet legislation and enforcement in their communities.

Each year, Bell and SAFE KIDS coalitions host bike safety rallies across the country. These rallies, designed to increase bike safety awareness and teach the importance of riding responsibly, include bike helmet inspections, safety courses and fun activities for families.

SAFE KIDS is a member of the National Bicycle Safety Network, a coalition of public and private organizations working together to encourage safe bicycle use.

How you can help:

• Talk to your child's friends and other parents about helmets ? remember, your child is more likely to wear his helmet if his friends do.
• Learn about the state and local laws that cover bike helmet use in your area by using the tool to the right. Advocate for new or stronger legislation and enforcement.
• Challenge community leaders to create bikeable and walkable paths and communities for families.
• Get in touch with your state or local SAFE KIDS coalition and find out how you can help with their bike safety efforts.
   

1. What I should look for in a bike helmet?
   
   Make sure that the bike helmet meets or exceeds safety standards. Look for an ASTM, Snell, ANSI or CPSC certification sticker inside the helmet and on the box.
   
   The helmet should sit on the top of your child's head in a level position, cover his/her forehead, and not rock forward and back or from side to side. Bring your child to the store to try on helmets before you purchase one. Ensure that your child always rides with their helmet straps buckled.
    
2. What kind of helmet should my child wear when using a skateboard, scooter or inline skates?
   
   It is essential that your child simply wears a helmet. While we recommend a multi-sport helmet for these "wheeled" activities, a properly-fitted bicycle helmet is just as effective.