Federal Agency Advocates For Mandatory Helmet Laws

In the world of cycling advocacy, it’s one of the oldest and most heated debates. Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board took a side, and it has cycling advocacy groups throwing up their hands. The NTSB is official pushing for mandatory helmet laws to combat rising cycling fatalities in the US, but some experts say that’s missing the point. 

Last week, the NTSB included mandatory use of helmets by kids and adults as one component of its safety measures designed to reduce the number of people killed while riding bicycles in the United States. While overall accidents are down, the number of fatalities are on the rise for both cyclists and pedestrians. 25% of fatal crashes occur on stretches of road between intersections, where motorists’ speeds are at their highest and cyclists are at their most vulnerable. 

Advocacy groups, including the League of American Bicyclists, released statements saying they are ‘disappointed’ by NTSB recommendation. Cycling groups point out that mandatory helmet laws may discourage more people from riding bicycles, and that there is safety in numbers. The more cyclists, the safer they are, at least until cities catch up on building the recommended infrastructure like separated bike paths and bike lanes, new traffic signals, and the implementation of harsher punishments for motorists who hit, injury, and kill cyclists and pedestrians. 

Nearly 900 cyclists died in 2018, up 67% from the year prior. Dangerous travel isn’t just a threat to cyclists and pedestrians; nearly 36,000 people died on American roadways in 2018, with approximately one-sixth of that number pedestrians. 

Would mandatory helmet laws change your commuting habits? Do you believe helmet laws do more harm than good? Let us know in the comments.