Various Organizations, Municipalities, And Doctors Have Reacted Differently On Thursday to the Proposal for a Mandative Helmet Law. This should Apply to Children up to Eightenen years old who ride fat bikes and other e-bikes. The Measure Should Prevent Brain Damage, But would also be Difficult to Enforce.
The proposal by outgoing minister or transport robert tieman can count on the support of emergency room Doctors. Accordance to the Dutch Association of Emergency Medicine Physicians (NVSHA), It Will Save Concussions and Serious Injuries. The Dutch Association for Trauma Surgery (NVT) Agrees.
The Number of Victims aged Twelve to Eightteen who ended up in the Emergency Room Due to An Accident With An Electric Bicycle HAS Increased Sixfold Between 2020 and 2024, Accordination to Figures from the Safety Knowled Center. “With electric bicycles, you quickly go a lot faster,” Says nvsha chairman yara basta.
“Schoolchilden do not yet have sufficient traffic insight to deal with it coply.” She hopes that children will get so used to wearing a helmet that they will continuously to wear it as adults. However, she regrets that no agreements have leg made about a minimum age.
The Police Leadership also reacted positively to the intention. Behavioral Rules Such as a Helmet Obligation Are Easier to Enforce, A Spokesperson Told the ANP . Checking Whether a Fat Bike Or Electric Bicycle Has Been Modified is More Difficult because It is less visible.
However, The Police Leadership also Proposes Other Precautionary Measures, Such as a Ban on a Throttle and the Limitation of Pedal Assistance.
‘Core Problem is not addressed’
Police Union ACP is Less Enthusiastic and Wonders How a Helmet Obligation Can Be Enforced. “That Depends, of Course, On How High the Priority is to do that and then Whether there is Sufficient Capacity Within the Police,” Says a Spokesperson. However, He Emphasizes That The Union is not Against the Helmet Obligation.
Various Interest Groups, Such as the ANWB and the Fietsersbond, Are Even More Critical. In a joint statement, they say that introducing a mandatory helmet law will mainly discourage the use of electric bicycles. “The core problem, the modification of fat bikes, illegal import and unacceptable behavior, is not addressed.”
Aldermen from Large Cities Such As Amsterdam and the Hague, On The Other Hand, are pleased that “After years of urging” a proposal for a helmet obligation is on the table. “With this we protect children better and we make it clear that thesis bicycles are not without danger,” Says the Hague Mobility Alderman Arjen Kapteijns.
The Intention is that the rules on the helmet bligation will be sent to the house of representatives in the autumn of 2026. Becaause it is not a new law but a further elaboration of existing Rules, the house of representatives does not have the new toe toe.