Helmet Use Among E-Bike, Pedal Bike, and E-Scooter Riders in Canberra: Retrospective Data Analysis of Head Injury Presentations (Phase 3)

BackgroundHelmet use is a proven safety measure that reduces the risk of head injury among cyclists and e-scooter riders. Despite legal requirements for pedal bikes and e-bikes in Australia, compliance varies, particularly among users of electric vehicles. The growing popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters in urban areas presents new public health challenges, yet observational data on helmet use, behavioural determinants, and the effectiveness of safety interventions remain limited. AimPhase 3 of the Helmet Use in Canberra study aims to characterise head injury presentations associated with cycling and e-scooter use and examine their association with helmet use and injury severity. MethodsDe-identified emergency department records from The Canberra Hospital will be retro-spectively analysed for presentations involving cycling or e-scooter-related head injuries during the study period. Extracted variables will include age, sex, vehicle type, documented helmet use, injury diagnosis, severity indicators, and date/time of presentation. Descriptive statistics will summarise injury patterns, while regression analyses will evaluate associations between helmet use and injury severity, controlling for demographic and contextual factors. Sensitivity analyses will address missing helmet data and subgroup differences by vehicle type, age, and gender. Expected ResultsIt is hypothesised that lower helmet use will correlate with higher rates and greater severity of head injury presentations. Findings will provide a population-level perspective on helmet effectiveness, inform local injury prevention strategies, and guide public safety interventions. Trial RegistrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) [ACTRN12626000245392]