Cycle helmet use survey 2011

Last updated on 7/05/2012 9:42 a.m. 

The latest annual national survey of helmet use in New Zealand by cyclists of all ages was carried out in March and April, 2011.

Over 4,600 cyclists were observed at 57 sites around the country[1]. Each site was surveyed for 2 separate hours, typically between 8am and 9am, and between 3pm and 4pm on normal school weekdays.

In 2011, the national cycle helmet wearing rate across all age groups observed was 93 percent. This result is the same as 2010 and both are up slightly compared to the wearing rates observed over 2007–2009 (92 percent, see Table 1). As shown in Figure 1, primary and intermediate school children have a wearing rate (96 percent) higher than that of adults (90 percent), and secondary school students (92 percent). The adult rate has dropped from 93 percent last year.

Table 1. Cycle helmet wearing rate by age group for the past 10 years (%)
Age group  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010 2011
Primary/Intermediate 94 91 95 92 96 94  93 92 96 96
Secondary 84 88  91  90  92  89  90  90  91 92
Adult 88  88 90  90  94  93  93  92  93 90*
All ages 89  89  92 91  94  92  92  92  93  93
*Statistically significant change from previous year.

Graph showing cycle helmet weating rate by age group from 1995 to 2011

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 10 years. (This survey is not designed to provide results at sub-regional levels, unlike the larger restraint use surveys).

Overall, the wearing rates are high, have not changed markedly and are being maintained in most of the regions. The cycle helmet wearing rates in Otago (sample size of 196) has dropped to 92 percent after a high of 98 percent in 2010. Wearing rates in all other regions are at similar levels to previous years.

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 80 cyclists observed each year. Small sample sizes (less than 150) have also been recorded in Gisborne (149), Southland (130) and the West Coast region (139) this year.

Due to the effect of the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and the removal of one of the Christchurch sites, the sample size for Canterbury (526) is smaller than previous years (813 in 2010). Care should be taken in comparing this year’s wearing rate with previous years, however no change in wearing rate is observed.

Table 2: Cycle helmet wearing rates by local government region for the past 10 years (%)
Local government region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Northland 81 69 85 91 91 77 84 85 Sample too small 81
Auckland 79 76 85 76 89 89 85 88 89 88
Waikato 92 93 91 91 88 89 82 85 89 89
Bay of Plenty 87 87 84 87 93 93 92 90 91 88
Gisborne 92 96 92 93 93 79 96 96 93 95
Hawke's Bay 84 85 95 94 98 90 94 92 95 95
Taranaki 90 86 92 92 95 98 90 84 90 95
Manawatu-Wanganui 87 92 93 95 96 93 94 94 94 94
Wellington 92 91 94 93 95 88 95 86 94 93
Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman 96 95 95 92 94 93 93 93 93 94
West Coast 62 87 95 82 88 94 94 96 94 97
Canterbury 92 89 94 90 98 96 97 96 98 98
Otago 85 91 98 94 91 93 93 95 98 92*
Southland 93 92 95 94 95 95 92 91 93 94
New Zealand 89 89 92 91 94 92 92 92 93 93

Police district wearing rates

We can also 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 10 years. (This survey is not designed to provide police area results).

Overall, the cycle helmet wearing rates are being maintained in most of the police districts. Helmet wearing in Bay of Plenty (sample size 484) has nearly returned to the 2008 level of 85 percent, after an increase to 91 percent in 2010. Wearing rates in all other regions are at similar levels to the previous year.

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 80 cyclists observed each year. Small sample sizes (fewer than 100 cyclists) have also been recorded in Auckland and Counties Manukau in some years.

Due to the effect of the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and the removal of one of the Christchurch sites, the sample size for Canterbury (526) is smaller than previous years (813 in 2010). Care should be taken in comparing this year’s wearing rate with previous years, however no change in wearing rate is observed.


Table 3. Cycle helmet weating rates by police district for the past 10 years (%).
Police district  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011 
Northland  81  69  85  91  91  77  84  85  Sample too small  81 
Waitemata 84  79  92  86  89  89  89  93  93  95 
Auckland 83  71  80  82  93  89  87  94  92  92 
Counties Manukau 65  72  82  55  84  88  75  68  65  69 
Waikato 93  94  91  92  87  91  87  85  89  92 
Bay of Plenty 88  87  85  86  92  91  85  89  91  86* 
Eastern 86  88  94  94  97  86  94  93  95  95 
Central 87  91  93  94  96  94  94  91  93  94 
Wellington 92  91  94  93  95  88  95  86  94  93 
Tasman 90  94  95  91  93  93  93  94  93  95 
Canterbury 92  89  94  90  98  96  97  96  98  98 
Southern 90  92  97  94  93  94  92  94  96  93 
New Zealand 89  89  92  91  94  92 92 92 93  93

*Statistically significant change from previous year.

[1] Normally 58 sites are surveyed annually. One Christchurch site was excluded due to the effects of the 22 February 2011 earthquake.

Related: Land