Safety helmet wearing is compulsory for motor cyclists in Australia. There is no compulsion For pedal cyclists to wear helmets and few do. Concern regarding the frequency of head injury among pedal cyclist casualties (PCC) has led us to compare the injury profile of 512 FCC and 667 motor cyclist casualties (MCC) treated between 1977-80 at four major Melbourne Hospitals. Their medical records were reviewed and injury data analysed using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (1980 revision). Comparisons were made between casualties involved in collisions with another vehicle, in single vehicle accidents and between casualties aged 17 years or more.
The fatality rates of PCC and MCC were 2.3% and 1.4%, respectively. Of PCC, 2.0% died from head injury alone compared to 0.8% of MCC. PCC sustained more frequent (59% versus 26%) and severe (A.I.S. ≥ 3) head injury (9% versus 4%) (P < 0.001). However, with the exception of single vehicle accident casualties, the maximum level of injury to any part of the body (maximum A.I.S.) was greater in MCC (P < 0.01).
These differences may be explained, at least in part, by the fact that all MCC were wearing helmets whereas the wearing rate for PCC was less than 5%. The Road Trauma Committee of the Royal Austalasian College of Surgeons is presently seeking legilation for compulsory wearing of approved safety helmets by PCC.