Cyclists 'safer with helmets'

The use of helmets would dramatically reduce injuries and fatalities to cyclists in accidents, according to a review of international research published yesterday by the Government's Transport Research Laboratory. From evidence in Europe, the US and Australia, the report suggests helmets would reduce casualties in all cases.

In 1992, 204 cyclists were killed and 3,787 were seriously injured on Britain's roads and two-thirds of cyclists killed sustained a head injury. Cyclists have resisted helmets because of discomfort, inconvenience and cost.