Helmets

Helmets, when worn properly reduce the risk of serious head and brain injury by 85% and 88% respectively.

Community Safety Projects
Annually, the Division funds local helmet and public awareness project across the state. Each project involves the purchase and dissemination of bicycle helmets to the community via presentations, bike rodeos and school programs. For information contact Heather Board at heather.board@vdh.virginia.gov.

Helmet Legislation in Virginia

Virginia does not have a state bicycle helmet law. However, Virginia does allow localities to pass local ordinances requiring the use of bicycle helmets by children fourteen and younger. Several jurisdictions throughout Virginia have passed such ordinances.

Virginia Department of Transportation: http://virginiadot.org/infoservice/bk-laws.asp

Bicycle Laws

A bicycle is considered to be a vehicle and therefore must follow the same traffic laws as vehicles do. In addition, there are some laws that pertain specifically to bicycles.

View Current Bicycling Laws in Virginia: http://virginiadot.org/infoservice/bk-laws.asp

Online Resources

DIVP has made the following material available for download. You are welcome to download and print the below material and share with your community. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.

• Virginia Online Injury Reporting System (VOIRS)
  
  
• Injury & Violence Prevention Tip Cards

Print Resources

To request these materials use the Online Order Form or print the Fax Order Form and fax to 804-864-7748.

• The Guide to Bike Rodeos
  
  
• Bike Smart! Virginia Poster: This poster has lists bike safety tips and pictures children riding bikes safely. Available in English and Spanish.
  
  
• Why Learn the Hard Way Poster: This poster has a picture of a young boy injured in a bicycle crash while not wearing a helmet.
  
  
• A Perfectly Fitted Bicycle Helmet: This brochure details 7 easy steps to a perfectly fitted helmet. Available in English and Spanish.
  
  
• Ride Smart, It's Time to Start Video: This, fast-paced video features a diverse group of teens and pre-teens modeling the newest, coolest looks in helmets, and includes real-life crash examples, computer graphics, and the entertaining, yet instructional "raw egg drop" and "jello brain" demonstrations. This video also explains how to buy an approved bicycle helmet that fits correctly, and discusses the rules of the road. Total running time 8:55 minutes. This video is offered as a VHS or DVD format.

Links

• American Academy of Pediatrics
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
• National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
• SAFEKIDS
• National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
• Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
• Department of Motor Vehicles
• Northern Virginia Injury Prevention Center
• Virginia Safe Kids Coalition
• Virginia Department of Transportation
• Scooter Safety Data (.pdf document, requires Acrobat Reader)
• Skateboard Safety Alert (.pdf document, requires Acrobat Reader)
• Scooter Safety Gear
• Wear Bike Helmets on Bicycles--Not on Playgrounds
• Cap Tech Classic
• Bike Walk Virginia

Disclaimer: Links to organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by the Virginia Department of Health, and none should be inferred. The Virginia Department of Health is not responsible for the content of the individual organization web pages found at these links.