cycle helmets 2007

Cycle helmet use: Results of national survey, March/April 2007

The latest annual national survey of helmet use in New Zealand by cyclists of all ages was carried out in March and April, 2007. Over 5,700 cyclists were observed at 58 sites around the country. Each site was surveyed for two separate hours, typically between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., and between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., on normal school weekdays.

In 2007, the national cycle helmet wearing rate across all age groups was 92%. This result is similar to the wearing rates observed over the past several years (see Table 1). As shown in Figure 1, primary and intermediate school children continue to have a higher wearing rate (94%) than adults (93%) and secondary school students (89%).

Table 1. Cycle helmet wearing rate by age group (%)

Age group	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Primary/ Intermediate	97	97	94	91	95	92	96	94
Secondary	91	93	84	88	91	90	92	89
Adult	91	92	88	88	90	90	94	93
All ages	93	95	89	89	92	91	94	92

Figure 1. Cycle helmet wearing rates by age group, 1995-2007 line graph.

Figure 1. Cycle helmet wearing rates by age group, 1995-2007

Regional Wearing Rates

These national surveys are designed to provide a consistent measure of cycle helmet use over time, by surveying the same sites each year. We can use this data to consider the regional wearing rates. Table 2 below shows the observed cycle helmet wearing rates for each Local Government Region, over the last nine years.

Overall, the wearing rates are high and have not changed markedly and are being maintained in most of the regions. The cycle helmet wearing rates in Gisborne, with a sample size of 243, appears to be down slightly from the previous three years. Conversely, the wearing rates in Taranaki appear to continue to improve, with a wearing rate this year above the national average. Note that the accuracy of the wearing rates is dependent on the sample sizes (the number of cyclists observed). If the sample size is small, the data may show large random fluctuations in the observed wearing rate. Northland region is the most affected, with typically fewer than 70 cyclists observed each year (48 this year). Small sample sizes have also been recorded in the West Coast region in recent years.

Table 2. Cycle helmet wearing rates by Local Government Region (%)

Local Government Region	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004		2005		2006	2007
Northland	89	85	81	69		85		91	91	77
Auckland	91	86	79	76		85		76	89	89
Waikato	91	96	92	93		91		91	88	89
Bay of Plenty	91	93	87	87		84		87	93	93
Gisborne	96	96	92	96		92		93	93	79
Hawkes Bay	85	91	84	85		95		94	98	90
Taranaki	94	95	90	86		92		92	95	98
Manawatu-Wanganui	95	95	87	92		93		95	96	93
Wellington	96	96	92	91		94		93	95	88
Nelson-Marlborough	96	97	96	95		95		92	94	93
West Coast	84	90	62	87		95		82	88	94
Canterbury	97	97	92	89		94		90	98	96
Otago	92	91	85	91		98		94	91	93
Southland	96	97	93	92		95		94	95	95
New Zealand	93	94	89	89		92		91	94	92

Police District Wearing Rates

Further, we can use the data to look at cycle helmet wearing rates in each Police District each year. Table 3 shows the cycle helmet wearing rates for each Police District over the last nine years.

Overall, the cycle helmet wearing rates are being maintained in most of the police districts. Helmet wearing in Wellington (sample size of 607), and Eastern Police Districts (sample size of 566), appear to have decreased, while wearing rates in Counties/Manukau (with a small sample size of 93) and Waikato (sample size of 313) appear to have increased. The accuracy of the wearing rates depend on the sample sizes (the number of cyclists observed). If the sample size is small, the data may show large random fluctuations in the observed wearing rate. Northland Police District is the most affected, with typically fewer than 70 cyclists observed each year (48 this year). Small sample sizes (fewer than 100 cyclists) have also been recorded in Auckland and Counties/Manukau in some years.

Table 3. Cycle helmet wearing rates by Police District (%)

Police District	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Northland	89	85	81	69	85	91	91	77
North Shore / Waitakere	94	91	84	79	92	86	89	89
Auckland	92	86	83	71	80	82	93	89
Counties / Manukau	86	79	65	72	82	55	84	88
Waikato	90	96	93	94	91	92	87	91
Bay of Plenty	91	93	88	87	85	86	92	91
Eastern	89	93	86	88	94	94	97	86
Central	95	95	87	91	93	94	96	94
Wellington	96	96	92	91	94	93	95	88
Tasman	93	95	90	94	95	91	93	93
Canterbury	97	97	92	89	94	90	98	96
Southern	94	94	90	92	97	94	93	94
New Zealand	93	94	89	89	92	91	94	92