OBSERVATIONAL EVALUATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AMONGHELMETED AND NONHELMETED BICYCLISTS

Study objective: To evaluate whether helmeted bicyclists are more comp liant with traffic regulations than nonhelmeted bicyclists. Methods: T his prospective observational study, using a convenience sample, was c onducted during daylight hours at three separate intersections, marked with legal stop signs, near the campus of a major university. Data co llected included helmet use, legal hand signal use to indicate a turn or stop, and whether the bicyclist came to a complete stop before proc eeding through the intersection. Results: A total of 1,793 bicyclists were evaluated. Only 8.8% of the bicycle riders were wearing helmets. Helmeted bicyclists were 2.6 times more likely than nonhelmeted bicycl ists to make legal stops (P<.000001; odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confide nce interval [CI], 2.1 to 4.6). They were also 7.1 times more likely t o use hand signals (P<.000001; OR, 7.2; 95% CI, 2.8 to 18.2). Conclusi on: Helmeted bicycle riders showed a significantly greater compliance with two traffic laws than nonhelmeted bicyclists. They were 2.6 times more likely to stop at stop signs and 7.1 times more likely to use le gal hand signals. This very strong association of helmet use with safe r riding habits has implications for injury-control efforts aimed at p reventing bicycle-related injuries.