No. The Highway Code recommends that cyclists wear approved cycle helmets, but no law in the United Kingdom requires them.
The vast majority of countries and territories on earth fall into this category, except for Australia and New Zealand.
However, it does not mean that you should not wear a helmet while riding.
Bicycle helmet laws by country
The use of bicycle helmets and attitudes toward their use vary from country to country. Whether or not it is necessary to wear a helmet is a hotly debated topic (see Bicycle helmet laws). Only Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand currently require and enforce bicycle helmets for all cyclists in their respective countries.
Except in certain states and subnational divisions (such as British Columbia), children under 18 are subject to the same regulations as adults throughout the United States and the world. Even though Denmark and the Netherlands have a strong cycling culture, they don’t enforce helmet use and have the lowest rates.
When cycling, do I need a helmet?
Cyclists of all ages are not required to wear helmets.
Cyclists should always wear a helmet regardless of what the law states, and the Highway Code recommends that all cyclists do the same.
How many people around the world ask themselves this question before they get on their bikes? While many places do not require you to wear a helmet on a bicycle or an electric scooter, this is not the case in many countries, including the United Kingdom. Putting one on is almost always a decision made by the wearer on their own accord.
How many riders wear helmets?
As you might expect, helmet use varies significantly from country to country. According to most studies, about 30 percent of regular riders choose to wear one.
In a 2020 European study, London was ranked as a helmet hotspot. London has twice as many helmet users as Vienna, the second most helmet-enabled city in Europe, with 61% of cyclists wearing helmets. According to the research group, there is a link between helmet wear and bicycle-friendly infrastructure. Urban planning is an essential consideration in the decisions people make.
So do helmets protect riders?
Helmets aren’t universally accepted as safe, but most studies show that having a helmet on your head could save you from severe injury or even death if an accident occurs.
As part of the most recent major global study, 64,000 cyclists from all corners participated. According to a new study, nearly 70 percent of bicycle-related head injuries could be avoided if helmets were worn. Helmet use does not cause neck injuries, and riders who wear them reduce their risk of fatal head injuries by 65%.
More than 75,000 cycling injuries were examined in another 2019 study. According to the study, 78% of adults and 88% of younger riders who suffered head or neck injuries did not wear helmets at the time of the accident.
Even though most governments and public organizations have not passed legislation making helmet use mandatory, these types of studies have convinced many to advocate for it.
Conclusions
We here at Newline certainly don’t advocate for mandatory helmet use. Using two-wheeled transportation gives you the freedom to do whatever you want. Fewer people may choose to ride because of it.
In our opinion, people should protect themselves without needing to carry yet another heavy object. As a result, we created a brand-new helmet that features a patented flip clip system for added convenience. With the Newlane, you can take it with you wherever you go!
