Law passed in Jersey making it compulsory for under 18's to wear cycle helmets
15/3/2010
In a close vote, politicians rejected 25 to 24 the law for adults, but agreed to make them compulsory for under-18s.
Deputy Andrew Green, whose son was left with a brain injury after falling off his bike, had made an emotional plea in the States to bring in the law. But Deputy Daniel Wimberley opposed the plans, claiming evidence showed wearing a cycle helmet can make injuries worse.
Deputy Green had asked the States to make a helmet a legal requirement either for children or for all cyclists in public places.
He said he had been a passionate supporter of protective headwear for cyclists since his son "had a massive brain injury as a result of a minor head injury" when he was nine.
Nothing could change what had happened to his son, he told the assembly. "But we can help to reduce the risks for others, and avoid years of emotional and financial costs for individuals and their families."
Deputy Wimberley argued helmets could, in some cases, make injuries worse. He also believed making helmets compulsory would discourage people in the island from cycling. However, despite this, politicians agreed 32 votes to 16 to make it law for under-18s to wear a cycle helmet.
Here in the UK, doctors say lives would be saved if the government made it illegal for children under 16 to cycle without a helmet.
The Association of Paediatric Emergency Medicine is calling for a change in the law to help reduce the number of children who suffer serious brain injuries in cycling accidents. Currently cyclists are not obliged by law to wear helmets, even though doctors say they can reduce direct skull impact.
Studies suggest helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 85 per cent, brain injury by 88 per cent and severe brain injury by 75 per cent.
Original sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/8559668.stm and http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk
