Cycling fatalities in Western Australia

To present a review of the circumstances of 64 cycling fatalities in Western Australia (WA) during the nine-year period 1984-1992, and the major injuries sustained by the cyclists.

The number of deaths was ascertained from lists maintained by the WA Police Department, Forensic Pathology Division of the Health Department and the Coroner's office. Individual case files held by the Coroner's office and Forensic Pathology Division were then examined for details of the circumstances of each incident, epidemiological data, and medical and toxicological findings.

Most of the 64 fatalities (59%) occurred in children or young adults less than 20 years of age. Most fatal injuries (54%) were to the head alone. Forty-seven of the deaths involved collision with a motor car. Alcohol was demonstrated in the blood of five of the 30 cases in which analysis of blood alcohol level was performed. On average, 7.8 cyclists died annually in WA before the introduction of legislation for the compulsory wearing of safety helmets while cycling. In the 12-month period following this legislation, there was only one cycling death.

Most cycling deaths occur in children, primarily from head injury resulting from impact with a motor car. The enactment of legislation for the compulsory wearing of cycling helmets has been associated with a fall in cyclist fatalities.