Legislation

Legislation

• Dannenberg et al (1993) looked at efforts to require young cyclists to wear helmets on three different counties in Maryland, USA.
• In a recent study in Maryland, the use of cycle helmets was compared in three counties: one in which a law had been passed in 1990 making it mandatory for everyone under the age of 16 to wear an approved helmet, one in which publicity about proposed legislation was widespread, and one in which there were no laws or publicity.

Method

• Natural experiment
• The Independent variable was the law being passed and campaign being seen
• The Dependent variable was of the children were wearing helmets, the number before and after, this was measured through self report, which parents filled in a questionnaire
• Howard County had an experimental law passed requiring children under 16 year to wear a helmet
• Montgomery County was a control group, no legislation had been passed but there was a campaign to promote safety.
• Baltimore County was a control group, no legislation been passed and no campaign

Results

• In Howard County, where the law was passed, there was an increase in helmet use that rose from 11.4% to 37.5% a rise of 26.1%
• In Montgomery County, where there was a campaign, there was an increase in helmet use that rose from 8.4% to 12.6% a rise of 4.2%
• In Baltimore County, where there was nothing, there was an increase in helmet use that rose from 6.7% to 11.1% a rise of 4.4%

Conclusion

• Although many children did not routinely wear a helmet when cycling, the Howard County legislation did show a large increase in the reported rate of cycle helmet wearing, The slight rise in the areas where there was an educational campaign was not significantly different from the area where there was no campaign. We might conclude that educational campaigns alone are not necessarily effective at all in increasing health behaviour.