New safety standards for better protection Common questions and answers for you and your family about bicycle helmets and safety. Bicycle helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent.
Most deaths related to bicycle falls and collisions involve head injuries.
This means that wearing a helmet can save your life. More children, ages 5 to 14, go to United States hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with bicycles than with any other sport. Many of these injuries involve the head. If you do not wear a bicycle helmet, you are risking your life. In addition, many states and local jurisdictions have laws requiring bicycle helmet use.