A helmet a cyclist can count on to protect against head injury inan accident - CHOICE # 379

A cyclist without a bicycle helmet is recklessly courting for injury - whether on a busy city thoroughfare or on a quiet rural path.

For every year in the past 8 years between 2000 and 2007, there were more than 1,000 road traffic accidents involving bicycles. That is a frightening average of nearly 4 accidents every day throughout a year.

If you are to entrust your safety to a bicycle helmet which could effectively reduce the risk of head injury, it is crucial that the helmet you wear can be relied on to offer adequate protection in times of need.

With this objective in mind, the Consumer Council has put 6 models to a comparative test to assess their performance on shock absorption, effectiveness and strength of the retention system (to prevent against pull-off from the head), ventilation (to provide comfort) and ease of use.

Much to the relief of cyclists, all samples were found to possess good shock absorption upon impact indicating that the head could be well protected.

Other aspects such as adequate fitting against pull-off and ventilation were equally satisfactory.

On ease of use, 2 samples were found to be fitted with thinner pads rendering them less comfortable than the others.

The environmental and health impact was also assessed - no significant release of VOC (volatile organic compounds) or excessive level of organotin compounds and azo dyes were found with the samples.

All cyclists, especially children, are strongly advised to wear a bicycle helmet whenever riding a bicycle for protection against unforeseeable accidents.

Further, when buying a helmet consider those with bright colours; night riders might also consider helmets with light-reflective patterns or flashy LEDs. Never buy or wear one with visible dents, cracks or known to have been used in an accident.