Calls For More Flexibility With Bike Helmet Laws

Would you ride more?


Article heading image for Calls For More Flexibility With Bike Helmet Laws

Pexels

There’s calls to change Australia’s bicycle helmet laws to allow adults to decide whether to wear a helmet when they aren’t riding on the road.


Bicycle Network is recommending Australia's helmet laws be relaxed; proposing a five-year trial permitting people older than 17 to choose whether they wear a helmet when riding on footpaths or off-road cycle paths.

In all Australian states and territories (excluding Northern Territory), it is currently mandatory for people to wear a helmet whenever and wherever they ride a bike.

Anthea Hargreaves, from Bicycle Network says the law would only apply to in people to low-risk environments - and would simply give riders the option to choose. 

“We aren’t telling people to not wear a helmet. We’re trusting adults to access their own risk, like they do in everyday life.”

She said as 80 per cent of crashes involving a cyclist are caused by a person driving a car in Australia - we weren't at a place where we could call to repeal all helmet laws - however this would make it easier to people to go for a ride along the beach, or pop down to the shops.

“Instead of addressing the real causes of bike crashes – the solution has been focussed on helmet and we know it’s a terrible day when you have to rely on your helmets. So we need to work more on reducing the risks for bike riders on our roads, instead of just hoping a helmet will save them when it happens.”

Catch up on today's headlines and download the Hit app here: iOS | Android

 

31 October 2018




Listen Live!

Up Next