CYCLE HELMETS

Early day motion 764, tabled 3 March 2004 by Jane Griffiths (Labour). Signed by 15 members.

That this House notes the substantial disparity between claims made for the efficacy of pedal cycle helmets and their measured effect in real populations; notes that the Transport Research Laboratory has reported the promotion of pedal cycle helmets may lead to increased injury rates; notes that cyclist injury rates remain unchanged following passage of mandatory helmet legislation in several countries; and calls on the Department of Transport to initiate a programme of research designed to establish why increases in helmet wearing rates are not associated with reductions in head injury rates, and why the countries with the lowest helmet wearing rates are those with the lowest cyclist injury rates.

Signatures by party: Labour 8, Liberal Democrat 4, DUP 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.