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Introduction and scope
The Queensland helmet law came into
effect on 1st July 1991. It applies to all ages.
The fine for infringement
of the law was originally AUD35, but is now AUD75 - 50% greater than the penalty
for any other traffic law violation by a cyclist. For children 10 - 16 years, a
fine is imposed on a third violation, after a caution and then a warning.
[4]
Compliance and enforcement
For the first 18 months, the helmet
law was not enforced. Helmet wearing increased initially, but 17 months later
was only a little higher than pre-law [2]:
| Cyclists wearing helmets | Pre-law | 17 months after law |
| Primary schoolchildren | 59% | 72% |
| Secondary schoolchildren | 13% | 21% |
| Commuter cyclists | 21% | 37% |
| Recreational cyclists | 22% | 22% |
Thereafter the law was rigorously enforced in most localities, but this has required substantial resources. Nearly 23,000 bicycle helmet offence notices were issued annually, 6.7% of all traffic offence notices. Per km, cyclists were three times more likely to receive a notice for not wearing a helmet than other road users for all other offences. [2]
Effect on casualties
The change in percentage of skull
fractures and head wounds showed some relationship with the increase in
helmet-wearing, but the total proportion suffering brain injury/concussion
remained unchanged. From 1993-1995, the rate of intracranial injuries was little
different and there were more cyclists with concussions than in 1991 when only
half the number were wearing helmets. The rates of concussions and other
intracranial injuries were both higher in 1992 when half wore helmets than in
1990 when perhaps a quarter wore helmets. [3]
Effect on cycle use
A survey, mainly of schoolchildren, showed a
decline in cycling of 22% from 1990 to 1991, before the law was enforced
[1]. Owing to changes in survey conditions, it has been
suggested that the true decline may have been in excess of 30%.
Cost benefit
No data available.
References and related studies
[1] Bicycle
helmet wearing surveys 1990 and 1991. Wikman J, Sims C. Royal Automobile Club of
Queensland, Brisbane.
[2] King M, Fraine G. Bicycle helmet legislation and enforcement in
Queensland 1991-3: Effects on helmet wearing and crashes. Road User Behaviour Section, Queensland Transport, June 1993.
[3]
Robinson DL. Helmets
and bicycle-related injuries in Queensland.
Med J Aust, 5 May 1997;166:510
[4]
Queensland
Transport 
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