October 18, 2009 (Quebec City, QC) – The Province of Quebec will introduce new measures early in 2010 to make bicycle helmets mandatory for youths. Transport Minister Julie Boulet has apparently not yet decided whether this measure will apply to youths up to age 12 or 14 reports La Presse. The bike helmet stipulation is part of proposed legislation that will most notably reduce the legal blood alcohol level for drivers of motorized vehicles from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent, in keeping with other Canadian provinces.

Currently British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island have mandatory bike helmet laws, although for at least Ontario and Alberta this law only applies to youths under 18 years old.

While many authorities claim that bike helmets reduce the incidence and severity of head injuries among cyclists, some articles posted at Cycle Helmets.com refute this. There is also some evidence that mandatory helmet laws may significantly reduce the number of people riding bicycles.

Meanwhile, Montrealer Jack Kowalski is leading a worldwide campaign to encourage the wearing of bike helmets in automobiles, calling his organization Driving without Dying. He claims that helmet use in cars would dramatically cut the number of deaths and severe injuries.

Original article (in French) here

Link to Cycle-Helmets.com here

Driving Without Dying – www.drivingwithoutdying.com