It is not mandatory for cyclists in Switzerland to wear a helmet but safety experts have long been recommending the measure.
Keystone/Steffen Schmidt
The Swiss government wants to make helmets mandatory for cyclists over the age of 12 in a bid to reduce road accidents.
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It has asked parliament to approve a plan giving the government the right to introduce mandatory helmets for children aged between 12 and 16.
The move is aimed at protecting this age group and to reduce the increasing number of head injuries, according to a statement on Wednesday.
As a rule, cyclists in Switzerland do not have to wear helmets. But they are compulsory when using fast e-bikes. However, safety experts strongly advise wearing helmets for anybody riding a bicycle.
In 2012, parliament rejected a proposal to introduce mandatory helmets for people over the age of 14.
The latest proposal is part of a package of measures to be submitted to parliament. It includes the creation of a legal basis to introduce autonomous vehicles and to drop minimum prison sentences for excessive driving, giving courts more discretion.
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Mandatory bike helmet advocates face uphill battle
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“I support mandatory bicycle helmets for everyone,” Reto Babst, head of trauma surgery at the Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, told swissinfo.ch. “I see so many accidents with bikes – even normal bikes, not just e-bikes – where people haven’t worn a helmet.” Every year around 900 people are seriously injured on bicycles in Switzerland, with…
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But the Federal Roads Authority plan has been criticised by cycling associations, who are calling for alternative measures. Cycling helmets come in all colours and sizes, and at a price most people can afford. But while they are widely available, they remain as unappealing for some riders as car seat belts are for a large…
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The Ghanaians have already noted more than a few differences between their countrymen and the Swiss. The Africans, clad in traditional Swiss mechanic overalls, are hard at work at Gump- und Drahtsel, a Bernese recycling repair shop. They are busy breathing new life into three old bicycles. Charles Ohemeng is changing the brake cable, Bernadus…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.