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^[1] (see Bicycle helmet laws). Four countries (Argentina, Cyprus,^[2] Australia, and New Zealand) currently both require and enforce universal use of helmets by cyclists. Partial rules apply in some other jurisdictions, 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.^[3]

Australia was the first country to enact mandatory bicycle helmet use for all cyclists.^[4] Mexico City has had mandatory cycle helmet laws repealed, and in Italy the Federazione Italiana Amici della Bicicletta managed to block a proposed helmet law.^[5] Cycling UK, the largest cycling advocacy organisation in the UK, has opposed mandatory wearing of helmets on the grounds that it should be a personal choice.^[6] In 2002 an attempt was made to introduce bicycle helmet legislation in Poland but it was opposed by cyclists' organisations.^[7]

Bicycle helmet legislation

Country	Age	Last change	Notes
Argentina	All	2004	Mandatory.[8] Fines are collected by the provinces.
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).[9] Main article: Bicycle helmets in Australia
Austria	12	2011	[10]
Belgium	None		[11]
Brazil	None	1997
Canada	[note 1]	[note 2]	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.[12] In the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, the use of helmets is mandatory for cyclists under the age of 18 years.[13][14][15][16] Use of a helmet is not mandatory in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.[17]
Chile	All	2009	Mandatory in urban zones and suggested in rural zones [18]
Costa Rica	All	2012	[19][20]
Croatia	16	2011	Mandatory for children below 16 only if riding on a road.[21]
Cyprus	All	2022	Mandatory for everyone. [22]
Czech Republic	18	2006	[7][23]
Denmark	None
Estonia	16	2011	[24]
Finland	None	2003[25]	Not required, but recommended.[26]
France	12	2017	Mandatory for children below 12 year old (passenger or driver), fines apply [27]
Germany	None
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."[28]
Hungary	None	2010	Wearing a helmet increases the speed limit for bicycles outside populated areas from 40 km/h to 50 km/h.[29]
Iceland	15	1998	Iceland has considered – but not pursued – extending its helmet law to adults.[30][31][32]
India	None
Ireland	None		[33]
Isle of Man	None		Cyclists "should" wear helmets, but they are not compulsory.[34]
Israel	18	2011	Starting from 2011, only applies under 18 years of age, in interurban ways and during sport events.[35]
Italy	None
Japan	All	2023	Enacted in 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.[36] Starting April 1, 2023, all individuals must make a "duty of effort" to wear a helmet. There is no penalty for not wearing a helmet.[37][38]
Jersey	13	2014	Failure to comply with the Law could result in a fine being issued.[39]
Latvia	12	2014
Malta	10	2004	Bicycles: Only under 10 year olds riding as passengers on an adult's bicycle are required to wear a helmet.[40]
Mexico	None	2010	Mexico City repealed mandatory helmet laws in 2010.
Namibia	All		[41]
New Zealand	All	1993	Main article: Bicycle helmets in New Zealand
Netherlands	None		[42]
Norway	None		[43]
Philippines	None	2021	No requirement nationwide, but some cities such as Quezon City have helmet mandate laws, with non-compliance punishable with fines.[44]
Poland	None		[7]
Portugal	None	2013	No requirement
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)[45]
Singapore	All	2018	Since 2018, all cyclists (power-assisted or not) must wear a helmet.
Slovakia	15		Only cyclists under 15 years of age (no fines apply)[46]
Slovenia	15	2000	[7]
South Africa	All	2004	Compulsory for all cyclists but in practice the law is not enforced. No fine had been agreed.[47]
South Korea	13	2006
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")[48] 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."[49]
Sweden	15	2005	No penalty for children cycling alone who do not obey the law. Also applies to Segway use.[50]
Switzerland	None		[28]
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.[51][52]
UAE	All	2010	Dubai[30]
Ukraine	None
United Kingdom	None		[28][53]
United States	[note 3]	[note 4]	Main article: Bicycle helmets in the United States
Uruguay	None	2015	[54]

• Outline of cycling

• Macpherson, A; Spinks, A (2007). "Bicycle helmet legislation for the uptake of helmet use and prevention of head injuries" (PDF). In Spinks, Anneliese (ed.). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Vol. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007. The Cochrane Collaboration. pp. CD005401. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005401.pub2. PMC 6823199. PMID 18646128. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-18. Retrieved 2011-01-08.

• European Cyclists’ Federation
• Bicycle Helmet Research Foundation