Children Ages 12 and Younger Must Wear a Bike Helmet

Broomall Fire Company – Public Education Committee

Spring is upon us even though Mother Nature is not cooperating as of late, the unofficial start of summer is just one week away. I wanted to review bicycle safety procedures and laws as we see an increase of riders both young and old.

For children 12 years and younger, it is Pennsylvania law that they wear an approved bicycle helmet. I have seen it first hand that children and adults who wear a helmet while riding their bike have a better chance of surviving a bicycle crash. When riding, we should go with traffic, use appropriate hand signals, and follow all the rules of the road as drivers do. Stop at red lights, use signals, and give pedestrians the right of way.

As vehicle operators, we should be very aware of children and adults riding their bikes. In saying that, bicyclists should also be aware of vehicles on the roadways. Many people like to listen to their favorite music while riding their bikes; they find it relaxing as well as entertaining. This is a distraction for the rider and many times they are unable to hear what is going on around them as they ride. Please use due care when riding your bike.

Please review the state law for children bicycling.

Section 3510. Pedalcycle helmets for certain persons.
(a) General rule.– A person under 12 years of age shall not operate a pedalcycle or ride as a passenger on a pedalcycle unless the person is wearing a pedalcycle helmet meeting the standards of the AmericanStandards Institute, the American Society for Testing and Materials, the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standards for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling or any other nationally recognized standard for pedalcycle helmet approval. This subsection shall also apply to a person who rides:

(1) upon a pedalcycle while in a restraining seat attached to a pedalcycle; or
(2) in a trailer towed by a pedalcycle.

Comment: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation strongly recommends that all bicyclists wear approved helmets whenever they ride.