Costs and benefits of a bicycle helmet law for Germany

Gernot Sieg

No 21, Working Papers from Institute of Transport Economics, University of Muenster

Abstract: This study presents a cost-benefit analysis of a law requiring cyclists to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle in Germany. The cost benefit-analysis takes into account the benefit of increased security when cyclists wear a helmet or use a transport mode that is less risky than cycling. The analysis also considers the cost of purchasing helmets, reduced fitness when cycling is replaced by a motorized transport mode, the discomfort of wearing helmets and environmental externalities. The benefits of a helmet law are estimated at about 0.7 of the costs. A bicycle helmet law for Germany is found to be a waste of resources.

Keywords: bicycle helmets; cost-benefit analysis; helmet law (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: K32 L91 R41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 19 pages
Date: 2014-03, Revised 2014-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ger, nep-hea, nep-law and nep-tre
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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https://www.wiwi.uni-muenster.de/ivm/sites/ivm/fil ... e/workingpaper21.pdf First version, 2014 (application/pdf)
http://www.wiwi.uni-muenster.de/ivm/sites/ivm/file ... kingpaper21final.pdf Revised version, 2014 (application/pdf)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mut:wpaper:21

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