Cycle helmets

• Why helmets matter
• Making sure your helmet fits
• Choosing the right helmet

Why helmets matter

About three-quarters of all cycling deaths are caused by head injuries.

By wearing a helmet, you dramatically reduce the risk of a skull fracture if your head hits an object or the road. A helmet also reduces your chance of getting concussion. It protects your head from cuts and scrapes.

Wearing a helmet is compulsory for all cyclists on New Zealand roads.

Making sure your helmet fits

1. Loosen all the straps.
2. Place the helmet squarely on your head.
3. Do up the chin strap.
4. Adjust it so it is tightened firmly under your chin.
5. Adjust the back straps on the helmet. The back and chin straps should meet just below your ear lobe. Make sure the chin strap stays in as straight a line as possible.

To ensure your helmet is correctly fitted, carry out this simple test. Make sure you can't:

• tilt the helmet backwards far enough to uncover your forehead
• tilt it forward so your eyes are covered
• tilt it sideways so the sides of your head are uncovered.

Choosing the right helmet

• Make sure your helmet is standards-approved.
• Check it is the right size - the helmet should fit snugly on your head with a minimum use of pads. It's not a good idea to buy a helmet that a child will 'grow into'.
• So that you can be easily seen by other road users, buy a brightly coloured helmet or one that has the manufacturer's high visibility stickers on it.

Page updated: 21 October 2005