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Each year bicyclists are killed or injured because of bicycle crashes. Many of these accidents are car/bicycle collisions. However, injuries can happen anywhere, not just on the street. Accidents in parks, driveways, bike paths, etc. often do not involve a motor vehicle.

Fatalities*

• 112 children ages 19 and under died while riding a bike in 2010
  • 48% of children who died while bike-riding in 2010 were 15-19 years old
  • 79% of children who died while bike-riding were boys
  • This is the smallest number of deaths since 1999, and is a 56% reduction in the number of deaths since that year and a 59% decrease in the death rate

Injuries*

• 289,473 children ages 19 and under were seen in emergency rooms for injuries from riding bikes in 2011
• 78,303 children ages 19 and under had skateboard‐related injuries, and 4,703 had skating‐ related injuries, in 2011
• More children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency departments for injuries related to biking than any other sport.

In Massachusetts, if you are 16 years old or younger, you must wear a helmet that meets U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements on any bike, anywhere, at all times. The helmet must fit your head and the chin strap must be fastened. Wearing a helmet is a simple step designed to prevent brain injuries. These are the most serious type of injury and the most common cause of death among bicyclists. Statistics show that helmets work in reducing these deaths and injuries.  Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by at least 45 percent, brain injury by 33 percent, facial injury by 27 percent and fatal injury by 29 percent. One study suggests that helmet use can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent and severe brain injury by 88 percent.*

Everyone, regardless of age, should wear a bicycle helmet. But, laws are not enough to keep children safe. Drivers have to be careful, too as children can ride out into the street in a second.

The following are a few safety tips for bicycle riders.

• Follow all traffic laws. Ride to the right and in single file. Obey all traffic signals and ride with traffic.
• Inspect your bike before going out. Make sure your brakes and lights are in good working order. Also, be sure your bike has reflectors.
• Avoid busy streets.
• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes or sneakers.
• Do not ride at night without lights.
• Do not attempt stunts or tricks, or hitch a ride onto moving vehicles.
• Do not weave in and out of traffic.