Cycle helmet surveys 2010
Last updated on
9/06/2011 9:07 a.m.
Cycle helmet use: Results of national survey, March/April 2010
The latest annual national survey of helmet use in New Zealand by cyclists of all ages was carried out in March and April, 2010. Over 5,600 cyclists were observed at 58 sites around the country. Each site was surveyed for two separate hours, typically between 8am and 9am, and between 3pm and 4pm, on normal school weekdays.
In 2010, the national cycle helmet wearing rate across all age groups was 93 percent. This result is up slightly compared to the wearing rates observed over the past several years (see Table 1). As shown in Figure 1, primary and intermediate school children have a wearing rate (96 percent) higher than that of adults (93 percent), and secondary school students (91 percent).
Table 1: Cycle helmet wearing rate by age group for the past 10 years (%)
| Age Group |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Primary/ Intermediate
|
97
|
97
|
94
|
91
|
95
|
92
|
96
|
94
|
93
|
92
|
96
|
|
Secondary
|
91
|
93
|
84
|
88
|
91
|
90
|
92
|
89
|
90
|
90
|
91
|
|
Adult
|
91
|
92
|
88
|
88
|
90
|
90
|
94
|
93
|
93
|
92
|
93
|
|
All Ages
|
93
|
94
|
89
|
89
|
92
|
91
|
94
|
92
|
92
|
92
|
93
|
Figure 1: Cycle helmet wearing rate by age group, 1995 - 2010
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 ten years. (This survey is not designed to provide results at sub-regional level).
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 Wellington (sample size of 547) has returned to 94 percent after a slight drop in 2009. Canterbury (sample size of 813) and Otago (sample size of 215) have also increased to 98 percent each.
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. This year only 40 cyclists were sampled, which is too small to provide a wearing rate. Small sample sizes (less than 180) have also been recorded in Gisborne, Southland and the West Coast region this year.
Table 2: Cycle helmet wearing rates by Local Government Region for the past 10 years (%)
| Local Government Region |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Northland
|
89
|
85
|
81
|
69
|
85
|
91
|
91
|
77
|
84
|
85
|
Sample too small
|
|
Auckland
|
91
|
86
|
79
|
76
|
85
|
76
|
89
|
89
|
85
|
88
|
89
|
|
Waikato
|
91
|
96
|
92
|
93
|
91
|
91
|
88
|
89
|
82
|
85
|
89
|
|
Bay of Plenty
|
91
|
93
|
87
|
87
|
84
|
87
|
93
|
93
|
92
|
90
|
91
|
|
Gisborne
|
96
|
96
|
92
|
96
|
92
|
93
|
93
|
79
|
96
|
96
|
93
|
|
Hawke's Bay
|
85
|
91
|
84
|
85
|
95
|
94
|
98
|
90
|
94
|
92
|
95
|
|
Taranaki
|
94
|
95
|
90
|
86
|
92
|
92
|
95
|
98
|
90
|
84
|
90
|
|
Manawatu-
Whanganui
|
95
|
95
|
87
|
92
|
93
|
95
|
96
|
93
|
94
|
94
|
94
|
|
Wellington
|
96
|
96
|
92
|
91
|
94
|
93
|
95
|
88
|
95
|
86
|
94
|
|
Nelson/
Marlborough/Tasman
|
96
|
97
|
96
|
95
|
95
|
92
|
94
|
93
|
93
|
93
|
93
|
|
West Coast
|
84
|
90
|
62
|
87
|
95
|
82
|
88
|
94
|
94
|
96
|
94
|
|
Canterbury
|
97
|
97
|
92
|
89
|
94
|
90
|
98
|
96
|
97
|
96
|
98
|
|
Otago
|
92
|
91
|
85
|
91
|
98
|
94
|
91
|
93
|
93
|
95
|
98
|
|
Southland
|
96
|
97
|
93
|
92
|
95
|
94
|
95
|
95
|
92
|
91
|
93
|
|
New Zealand
|
93
|
94
|
89
|
89
|
92
|
91
|
94
|
92
|
92
|
92
|
93
|
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 ten 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 Wellington (sample size 547) has returned to 2008 levels after a drop in 2009.
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. This year only 40 cyclists were sampled, which is too small to get a wearing rate from. 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 for the past 10 years (%)
|
Police District
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
|
Northland
|
85
|
81
|
69
|
85
|
91
|
91
|
77
|
84
|
85
|
Sample too small
|
|
Waitemata
|
91
|
84
|
79
|
92
|
86
|
89
|
89
|
89
|
93
|
93
|
|
Auckland
|
86
|
83
|
71
|
80
|
82
|
93
|
89
|
87
|
94
|
92
|
|
Counties / Manukau
|
79
|
65
|
72
|
82
|
55
|
84
|
88
|
75
|
68
|
65
|
|
Waikato
|
96
|
93
|
94
|
91
|
92
|
87
|
91
|
87
|
85
|
89
|
|
Bay of Plenty
|
93
|
88
|
87
|
85
|
86
|
92
|
91
|
85
|
89
|
91
|
|
Eastern
|
93
|
86
|
88
|
94
|
94
|
97
|
86
|
94
|
93
|
95
|
|
Central
|
95
|
87
|
91
|
93
|
94
|
96
|
94
|
94
|
91
|
93
|
|
Wellington
|
96
|
92
|
91
|
94
|
93
|
95
|
88
|
95
|
86
|
94
|
|
Tasman
|
95
|
90
|
94
|
95
|
91
|
93
|
93
|
93
|
94
|
93
|
|
Canterbury
|
97
|
92
|
89
|
94
|
90
|
98
|
96
|
97
|
96
|
98
|
|
Southern
|
94
|
90
|
92
|
97
|
94
|
93
|
94
|
92
|
94
|
96
|
|
New Zealand
|
94
|
89
|
89
|
92
|
91
|
94
|
92
|
92
|
92
|
93
|
Downloads
If you require data from previous decades please contact us.