TY - JOUR
T1 - A quasi-experimental, longitudinal evaluation of a school-based bicycle helmet campaign for children age 4–8 years in the Netherlands
AU - Boele-Vos, Marjolein
AU - Goldenbeld, Charles
AU - van Strijp-Houtenbos, Maura
AU - Commandeur, Jacques J.F.
AU - Twisk, Divera A.M.
N1 - Special Issue: Cycling Safety
PY - 2020/1/2
Y1 - 2020/1/2
N2 - Head injury severity may be reduced by a helmet, however, helmets are not mandatory in the Netherlands. Yet public support for voluntary use of helmets for children is high. This study evaluated the effect of a five-year school-based campaign (4- to 8-year-olds) on helmet-wearing rates and identified its success and failure factors. We compared observed helmet-wearing rates before the campaign, with yearly rates during programme, and related those to wearing rates in a control area. Parents, together with their children, completed questionnaires on self-reported helmet wearing, attitudes, beliefs, and barriers. Results showed that observed helmet wearing increased in the first campaign year but varied in later years. This variation in rates coincided with variations in campaign intensity over the years. Factors associated with self-reported helmet wearing were age, with higher wearing rates for younger children than older children, and parental rules for helmet use. Children and parents are positive toward helmet use when children are perceived to be less competent cyclists. The most important reason for not wearing helmets is that peers do not wear helmets. Overall, parents and children seem to be influenced by the norm in the Netherlands that children above a certain age cycle without a helmet.
AB - Head injury severity may be reduced by a helmet, however, helmets are not mandatory in the Netherlands. Yet public support for voluntary use of helmets for children is high. This study evaluated the effect of a five-year school-based campaign (4- to 8-year-olds) on helmet-wearing rates and identified its success and failure factors. We compared observed helmet-wearing rates before the campaign, with yearly rates during programme, and related those to wearing rates in a control area. Parents, together with their children, completed questionnaires on self-reported helmet wearing, attitudes, beliefs, and barriers. Results showed that observed helmet wearing increased in the first campaign year but varied in later years. This variation in rates coincided with variations in campaign intensity over the years. Factors associated with self-reported helmet wearing were age, with higher wearing rates for younger children than older children, and parental rules for helmet use. Children and parents are positive toward helmet use when children are perceived to be less competent cyclists. The most important reason for not wearing helmets is that peers do not wear helmets. Overall, parents and children seem to be influenced by the norm in the Netherlands that children above a certain age cycle without a helmet.
KW - Evaluation
KW - follow-up
KW - free bicycle helmet
KW - school-based campaign
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064477426&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85064477426&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/19439962.2019.1591552
DO - 10.1080/19439962.2019.1591552
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85064477426
SN - 1943-9962
VL - 12
SP - 17
EP - 36
JO - Journal of Transportation Safety and Security
JF - Journal of Transportation Safety and Security
IS - 1
ER -