Health Promotion and Community Wellness staff works with community partners, including schools and police departments, to provide helmet safety education. We demonstrate correct safety helmet fit and use during free programs at elementary schools, at bicycle safety rodeos and with one-on-one education throughout Solano County.
For more bicycle safety information, please visit our Safe Routes to School page. For a schedule of upcoming Bike Rodeos click: Bike Safety Events
Safety Helmet Rules and Tips
- As of January 2003 in California, children under age 18 must use helmets when riding any device on wheels, including bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller blades, skates and tricycles. Toddlers towed in a bicycle trailer must also wear a helmet.
- The use of helmets is a learned habit. If you remind your children to wear a helmet every time they ride it will become a lifelong habit.
- There are different types of helmets for different types of activities. Bike helmets are made to protect the rider from falls that affect the top of the head. Most riders pitch forward when falling. A different helmet is needed for scooters, skateboards and roller blades, as most falls are sideways or backwards. A multi-sport helmet is available, but there are no regulatory standards for them.
- The best bike helmets are rated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Helmets come with an instruction booklet that describes how to use them correctly. They usually come with stick-on padding that can be added to the inside of the helmet to adjust the fit and some new models have an adjustable ring built in to the helmet.
- Helmets should fit squarely and snugly on the head. There should be no shifting of the helmet when the head is turning or moving up and down.
- There are 2 sliding clips that should be positioned directly below each ear. When the strap is buckled under the chin, no more than two fingers, side-by-side, should fit between the strap and the chin.
- When buying a helmet, consider getting one that is white in color. The color of a helmet may leave a child open for gang-related violence. For example, in Solano the colors red and blue should be avoided.
- When a helmet is involved in a crash, it should be replaced. There may be invisible, structural damage that would cause the helmet to fail during the stress of another crash.
If you are ready for a bike ride, tag us on Instagram or twitter @VibeSolano. Post your favorite pictures of you and your family safely on the go on our Facebook page!