Effective March 1, 2006, the age for individuals required to wear approved bicycle helmets while driving a bicycle has been changed from children under the age of 14 to children under the age of 17.  Children under the age of 17 must also wear approved bicycle helmets when they are roller skating, in-line skating, skateboarding or riding on scooters.

See the source image

The Township of Washington Police Department will be actively enforcing this law.  Children under the age of 17 who ride bicycles, roller skate, skateboard or ride scooters without wearing a helmet will receive a written warning notice that their parents must sign and return to Police Headquarters.  If a child is found to violate the bicycle helmet law on a second occasion, the parent or guardian of the child will receive a summons.  Statistics show that bicycle helmets are believed to be 85 to 88% effective in preventing or decreasing the severity of head and brain injuries.  Using a bicycle helmet is the single most effective way to reduce head injuries resulting from bicycle crashes.

For additional information please refer to the following web-sites: The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute at www.bhsi.org and the brain Injury Association of America at www.biausa.org.  If you have any questions please call the Township of Washington Police Department at 201-664-1140.

          Stay safe and wear your helmet.