Last update - 00:00 14/01/2007
Proposed law would require cyclists to wear helmets while riding
By Zvi Zarhia, Haaretz Correspondent
A Knesset committee on Sunday approved MK Gilad Arden's law proposal requiring cyclists to wear helmets while riding.
The law would also include skateboarders, rollerskaters and rollerbladers.
The Knesset plenum will vote on the proposal on Wednesday in a preliminary hearing.
The proposal instructs "no person will ride a bicycle unless their head is protected by a properly fastened helmet that meets the standards determined by the minister. Anyone who does not abide by these regulations will be fined. The local authorities will be given the power to enforce this law via inspectors."
Arden reached an agreement with the justice ministry that children caught violating the new law will be warned twice before being penalized. The third time a child is apprehended, a letter will be sent to his/her home demanding payment of a fine.
According to Arden, hundreds of cyclists are injured every year. Wearing a helmet is a basic precaution that can prevent more than 80 percent of the head injuries.
Arden said that many other countries have adopted similar laws, such as Australia, Canada and 21 U.S. states. He added that research shows that such a law in Israel would save the public NIS 42.2 million within five years. According to the study, each year the law would prevent 57 deaths, 2,433 hospitalizations, 13,355 visits to the emergency room, 832 short term rehabilitations and 115 long term rehabilitations.