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How common is head injury when cycling?

An analysis of hospital admissions data for England from the Department of Health shows the following information concerning head injury for children under 16 years of age. [1]

Context

To assess the following data in context, the number of children in England under 16 years who cycle is approximately 6 million. [2]
Statistics exclude intentional or self-inflicted injuries.

Data for the year 2002/3

Hospital admissions for head injury:

All causes: 30,533
Cyclists: 2,183
Cycling represents 7.1% of all head injuries

Proportion of all injuries that involve head injury:

All causes: 34.2%
Cyclists: 37.6%
Pedestrians: 43.7%

Serious head injuries:

All causes: 5,875
Cyclists: 385 - 550 *
Pedestrians: 4,564
Cycling represents 6.5% of all serious head injuries

With some potential for mitigation by effective head protection: 370 - 516 *
This is a theoretical upper limit: see commentary

[*: lower figure is known serious injuries and is the figure comparable with those for all causes and pedestrians;
upper figure includes an adjustment to take account of undefined injuries]

Deaths due to head injury:

Cyclists: 10
This represents 53% of child cyclist deaths

Serious head injuries involving a motor vehicle

Cyclists: 86
Pedestrians: 384

Trends 1995/6 to 2002/3

Cyclist head injuries

3,514 in 1995/6, fell to 2,183 in 2002/3
The proportion of all injuries that included head injury declined from 48% to 38% - a fall of 21%.

Cyclist deaths due to head injury

31 in 1995, declined steadily to 10 in 2002.
The proportion of deaths due to head injury declined from 72% to 53% - a fall of 26%.

Cycle helmet use

All children: 17.6% in 1994, down to 15.2% by 2002.
Boys (who account for 5 out of 6 injuries in this age group): 16.0% in 1994, falling steadily to 12.3% in 2002. [3]
This represents in decline in helmet use of 14% for all children, 23% for boys most at risk.

References

[1] Franklin JA, Chapman G. Quantifying the risk of head injury to child cyclists in England: an analysis of hospital admissions data. BHRF, 2005.
[2] Young people and sport in England. Sport England, 2003.
[3] Cycle helmet wearing in 2002. Transport Research Laboratory report 578. 2003..

See also: Child cyclist head injuries in England: the wider context Location of injuries to cyclists Relative risk in cycling Risk and cycling How safe is cycling? - an informative quiz