BICYCLE SAFETY FACTS

• State of Hawaii Law:    passed in the 2000 Legislative Session, all youth aged 15 years and younger are required to wear bicycle helmets while riding a bicycle. Citation is a fee of $25.

• Ninety-eight percent of bicyclists killed reportedly weren’t wearing helmets
  (Fatality Analysis Reporting System, U.S. DOT 1998)

• Head injury is the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes and is the most important determinant of bicycle-related death and permanent disability.

• The single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes is a helmet.

BIKE and HELMET Frequently Asked Questions:

What I should look for in a bike helmet?

• Make sure that the bike helmet meets or exceeds safety standards. Look for an ASTM, Snell, ANSI or CPSC certification sticker inside the helmet and on the box.

• The helmet should sit on the top of your child’s head in a level position, cover his/her forehead, and not rock forward and back or from side to side. Bring your child to the store to try on helmets before you purchase one. Ensure that your children always ride with their helmet straps buckled.

What kind of helmet should my child wear when using a skateboard, scooter or inline skates?

• It is essential that your child wear a helmet. While we recommend a multi-sport helmet for these “wheeled” activities, a properly-fitted bicycle helmet is just as effective.