INJURIES TO PEDAL CYCLISTS RESULTING IN DEATH AND HOSPITALIZATION

Aim. To determine the incidence of injury deaths and hospitalisations associated with pedal cycle use in both traffic and nontraffic environ ments and in the national population of New Zealand. Methods. All case s of pedal cycle injuries resulting in death between 1979-88, and all those resulting in hospitalisation in 1988 were identified from health information services files. Results. Between 1979 and 1988, 238 cycli sts died. Seventy-six percent were male, and 39% of all fatalities occ urred to those aged 5-14 years. Collisions with motor vehicles account ed for most fatalities. Head injuries alone, or with other injuries, w ere associated with death in 60% of cases. In 1988, 1500 cyclists were admitted to hospital for the treatment of their injuries. Fifty-one p ercent of those hospitalised were aged 5-14, and males accounted for 7 0% of all admissions. Thirty-four percent involved a collision with a motor vehicle. Intracranial injuries and skull fractures accounted for 46% of hospital admissions, and had the highest scores on the abbrevi ated injury scale (AIS). Conclusion. This study shows that head injuri es are a common cause of death and hospital admission for cyclists. In creases in cycle helmet wearing rates are likely to reduce the frequen cy and severity of head injury. Other prevention strategies include cy cling skills programmes that have been evaluated and shown to be effec tive, the identification and modification of aspects of cycle design t hat contribute to injuries, and changes to road design.