An economic evaluation of the mandatory bicycle helmet legislation in Western Australia

The purpose of this present study was to conduct an economic evaluation of the mandatory helmet wearing legislation in Western Australia. The study had two main objectives. First, the effectiveness of the helmet wearing law in reducing head injuries to cyclists in Western Australia was evaluated, taking into account trends in head injuries to pedestrians (who were used as a control group for bicyclists). Second, the cost-effectiveness of the bicycle helmet legislation was examined in terms of its costs and outcomes. The only outcome included in the cost-effectiveness analysis was the change in the number of head injuries to bicyclists. Other possible outcomes, such as the impact of the legislation on cycling activity and associated changes in physical fitness and related health conditions, were not included in the analysis.