Since at least 2000, helmet use in cycling has increased thanks to better education, laws, and stylish options, but many cyclists, especially adults, still ride without one.
In fact, some sources say about half of adults do not wear a helmet.
It's a bad choice.
In fact, the numbers are all against riding without a helmet.
Proportion of non-fatal bicycle injuries treated in emergency rooms involving head injuries: About one-third. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) notes that a majority of the roughly 80,000 annual cycling-related head injuries seen in ERs are brain injuries, and head trauma accounts for around one-third of non-fatal bicyclist injuries overall.
Proportion of fatal bicycle crashes involving head injuries: About three-quarters (around 75 percent). Head injury remains the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes, with recent analyses (including NHTSA and advocacy reports) confirming that about 75 percent of bicyclist fatalities are due to head trauma. In 2022, there were 1,105 pedal cyclist fatalities in the U.S., many preventable.
Percentage of head injuries that could be prevented by helmets: 60-85 percent. Modern meta-analyses and studies show bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head injury by about 60 percent and serious brain injuries by similar amounts. Recent Norwegian and U.S. trauma data support 62 percent odds reduction for any head injury and lower severity when helmets are worn.
Helmets are proven to save lives and reduce injury severity, particularly for brain trauma. Always choose a properly fitted, CPSC-certified helmet, replace it after any crash, and encourage everyone in the family to wear one every ride. Safe cycling starts with simple protection.
