Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country

The wearing of bicycle helmets and attitudes towards their use vary around the world.

The effects of compulsory use of helmets are disputed (see Bicycle helmet laws). Only the four countries of Argentina, Cyprus, Australia, and New Zealand currently both require and enforce universal use of helmets by cyclists. In some other jurisdictions partial rules apply, such as only for children (e.g. in France), in certain states or sub-national divisions (e.g. British Columbia in Canada), or under other limited conditions.

Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country
  No legal restrictions
  Some local laws apply
  Children only; other local laws may also exist
  Partial rules apply
  Mandatory but no fines apply
  Mandatory

Legislation by country

Australia was the first country to enact mandatory bicycle helmet use for all cyclists. Mexico City has had mandatory cycle helmet laws repealed, and in Italy the Federazione Italiana Amici della Bicicletta managed to block a proposed helmet law.Cycling UK, the largest cycling advocacy organisation in the UK, considers helmet wearing should be a personal choice rather than being mandated by legislation. In 2002 an attempt was made to introduce bicycle helmet legislation in Poland but it was opposed by cyclists' organisations.

Bicycle helmet legislation
Country Age Last change Notes
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Argentina All 2004 Mandatory. Fines are collected by the provinces.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Australia All 1990–92 Compulsory for all ages in public spaces except for those older than 17 in the Northern Territory that are not using car carriageways (e.g: footpaths, cycle paths, trails).
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Austria 12 2011
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Belgium None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Brazil None 1997
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Canada Legislation on the use of bicycle helmets originates from provincial and territorial legislation. As a result, laws surrounding the use of bicycle helmets varies across the provinces and territories of Canada.

The use of bicycle helmets is compulsory in the provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, the use of helmets is mandatory for cyclists under the age of 18 years.

Use of a helmet is not mandatory in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.

Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Chile All 2009 Mandatory in urban zones and suggested in rural zones
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Costa Rica All 2012
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Croatia 16 2011 Mandatory for children below 16 only if riding on a road.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Cyprus All 2022 Mandatory for everyone.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Czech Republic 18 2006
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Denmark None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Estonia 16 2011
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Finland None 2003 Not required, but recommended.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  France 12 2017 Mandatory for children below 12 year old (passenger or driver), fines apply
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Germany None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Hong Kong None In 2009, Transport Secretary announced that government had no intention of introducing mandatory helmet law, based partly on "international views that a mandatory requirement may lead to a reduction in cycling activities."
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Hungary None 2010 Wearing a helmet increases the speed limit for bicycles outside populated areas from 40 km/h to 50 km/h.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Iceland 15 1998 Iceland has considered – but not pursued – extending its helmet law to adults.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  India None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Ireland None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Isle of Man None Cyclists "should" wear helmets, but they are not compulsory.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Israel 18 2011 Starting from 2011, only applies under 18 years of age, in interurban ways and during sport events.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Italy None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Japan 13 2008 Article 63-11 of the Road Traffic Act requires that persons responsible for children under 13 must ensure that the children wear helmets. However, there is no penalty associated with this article.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Jersey 13 2014 Failure to comply with the Law could result in a fine being issued.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Latvia 12 2014
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Malta 10 2004 Bicycles: Only under 10 year olds riding as passengers on an adult's bicycle are required to wear a helmet.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Mexico None 2010 Mexico City repealed mandatory helmet laws in 2010.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Namibia All
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  New Zealand All 1993
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Netherlands None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Norway None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Philippines None 2021 No requirement nationwide, but some cities such as Quezon City have helmet mandate laws, with non-compliance punishable with fines.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Poland None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Portugal None 2013 No requirement
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Russia None 2014 No requirement (except for users of electric power-assisted bicycles with more than 250W engine or electric powered speed excess 25 km/h)
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Singapore All Since 2018, all cyclists (power-assisted or not) must wear a helmet.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Slovakia 15 Only cyclists under 15 years of age (no fines apply)
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Slovenia 15 2000
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  South Africa All 2004 Compulsory for all cyclists but in practice the law is not enforced. No fine had been agreed.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  South Korea 13 2006
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Spain All (interurban roads) /
16 (urban areas)
2015 In urban areas helmet is only required for under 16 years old riders (Art. 47 of "Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor y Seguridad Vial")

The city of Mollet del Vallès in Catalonia has voted and approved in 2020 mandatory helmet to ride a bicycle for anyone of any age on local bylaw, quote of Art. 18 "Those who ride a bicycle on urban streets in Mollet del Vallès will have to use a helmet, whether they are older than legal age or minor."

Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Sweden 15 2005 No penalty for children cycling alone who do not obey the law. Also applies to Segway use.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country   Switzerland None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Togo All 2013 Mandatory helmet policy was enacted by the National Assembly of Togo, since 1975 but the enforcement by the National Police only started in Jun 2013 upon enactment of a new road code.
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  UAE All 2010 Dubai
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Ukraine None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  United Kingdom None
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  United States
Bicycle Helmet Laws By Country  Uruguay None 2015

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

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