The First Steps With Bike and Helmet Safety
Bike and Helmet Safety: the few things that matter most, and the mistakes that catch people out early.
Wearing a properly fitted helmet and following the rules of the road on bikes, scooters and skateboards.
Key takeaways
- Helmet standard: look for a label showing it meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard
- Fit: level on the head, about two finger widths above the eyebrows
- Most useful single change: Make helmet use a rule for every ride, for adults as well as children.
- Commonest mistake: Wearing a helmet tipped back on the forehead.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Why bother
Head injuries are the most serious injuries in bike crashes, and a well-fitted helmet lowers the risk.
Start here
Start with two. Add the rest once those have stopped taking effort.
- Make helmet use a rule for every ride, for adults as well as children
- Ride in the same direction as traffic and obey traffic signals
Then add these
Once the first two are automatic, these are worth adding.
- Wear bright clothing during the day and reflective gear at night
- Check brakes and tires before riding
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Helmet standard | look for a label showing it meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard |
| Fit | level on the head, about two finger widths above the eyebrows |
| Straps | form a "V" under each ear, buckled snugly with room for no more than one or two fingers under the chin |
| Replace | after any crash or impact, even if it looks fine |
| Riding at night | use a white front light and a red rear reflector or light |
Common early mistakes
- Wearing a helmet tipped back on the forehead
- Using headphones or a cell phone while riding
- Riding against traffic
Related topics
- Teen Driving Safety: What the Evidence Actually Says (Teen Health)
- Concussion: What Published Guidance Supports (Brain Health)
- Childhood Activity: What the Evidence Actually Says (Children's Health)
- Head Injury: What Published Guidance Supports (Emergency Care)
Where to go next
- Bike and Helmet Safety: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- Making Sense of Bike and Helmet Safety
- Bike and Helmet Safety — the reference entry
- Injury Prevention: The Complete Guide
- What the Guidance Really Says About Poisoning Prevention at Home
- Smoke Alarms and Fire Safety: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
Call 911 after a crash if someone loses consciousness, has a seizure, repeated vomiting, a headache that gets worse, or weakness or numbness. See a doctor for any head injury followed by confusion, dizziness or unusual behavior.
Where this comes from
- NHTSA — Bicycle Safety
- Consumer Product Safety Commission — Which Helmet for Which Activity?
- CDC — Bicycle Safety
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
