POLICE are giving notice to all bike and scooter riders about the need to wear a bicycle helmet - a mandatory safety requirement under Victorian law.

Casterton Police Sergeant Tracie Kelly said an alarming number of riders had been observed and/or spoken to in recent weeks, riding in public areas, without a helmet.

“Heads are not made to bounce on roads and kids, in particular, tend to concentrate less on the important things going on around them when they’re riding around with their mates,” Sgt Kelly said.

“We know that helmets can save lives and at the very least, can reduce the risk of serious injury.”

Mandatory bicycle helmet laws were introduced in Victoria in July 1990.

These laws apply when riding:

• on roads and road-related areas
• on bike and shared paths
• in bike lanes
• in recreational parks
• in car parks
• on footpaths.

Police can stop bike and scooter riders and issue a fine or a warning for not wearing an approved bicycle helmet.

Penalties start at $231 per offence, up to $925, if the matter proceeds to court.

As well as the person in control of the bicycle, any passenger who is not wearing a helmet can also be penalised.

Additionally, a rider can be further fined if they “use a bicycle to carry a person who is not wearing a securely fitted approved bicycle helmet”.

A review of 40 studies of the use and benefits of bicycle helmets was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology in 2016 and found that bicycle helmets reduced the chances of a serious head injury by almost 70 per cent.

Two years after introducing bicycle helmet laws in 1990, there was a 16 per cent reduction in head injuries in metropolitan Melbourne and a 23 per cent reduction in head injuries across Victoria.

When choosing a bike helmet, make sure:

• it fits firmly and comfortably on your head and cannot be tilted in any direction;
• the straps can be adjusted so there is no slack when fastened;
• it has a sticker showing it is safety approved and meets the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2063;
• it is marked with the symbol of a body accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ), certifying compliance with AS/NZS2063 (for helmets manufactured or imported from 1 July 2012).

Cyclists are also reminded that only certain riders are allowed to ride their bikes on footpaths and anyone not meeting certain criteria, must use designated bicycle or shared paths, or ride on the road, following road user rules.

The exceptions to the ‘no footpath’ rule include:

• children under the age of 13
• adults or children 13 and above accompanying children under 13 years
• Australia Post workers
• those with a relevant medical certificate.

When riding on a footpath a bike rider must keep to the left, give way to pedestrians and slow down if overtaking.