The New Jersey Head Injury Association has studied the affects of bicycle riding, skateboarding, and roller skating without a helmet.  Thier studies have shown that children and teens are especially vulnerable to serious injury or even death.  Bike helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by almost 90 percent!  Presently, bicycle helmets are becoming the norm.  Today, more and more parents, guardians, and children recognize the dangers of riding a bicycle without a helmet.  However, most children riding a bike don't have much of a choice anymore...

The New Jersey legislature has adopted a brand new law to further restrict the previous statute that required children to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle.  The OLD statue was as follows: According to NJ's Title 39, children under the age of fourteen must wear an approved bicycle helmet while riding a bicycle.  This law also applies to any child riding in a restraining seat which is attached to a bicycle or in a trailer towed by a bicycle.

The NEW laws, 39:4-10.1 and 39:4-10.5 , now require anyone under seventeen years of age who is riding a bicycle, OR a skateboard, OR roller skates to wear a properly fitted helmet!  This law also applies to any child riding in a restraining seat which is attached to a bicycle or in a trailer towed by a bicycle. 

The bicycle helmet must meet the standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation's 1990 Standard For Protective Headgear used in Bicycling.

Approved helmets can be identified by an ANSI or Snell sticker on the helmet.  Also, the director of the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles will publish and distribute a list of approved helmets.  

Acording to the Law, the parent or guardian of a child without a bicycle helmet may be fined up to $100 for an offense as described above. 

Questions or concerns about this new law may be directed to Juvenile Detective Sergeant Tom Farrell at (201)664-4200 x5037 or via email dsg.farrell@hillsdalepolice.com; School Resource Officer P.O. Sean Kavanagh at (201)664-4200 x5214 or via email ptl.kavanagh@hillsdalepolice.com ; or to the Hillsdale Police Department's Traffic Bureau at (201)664-4200 x5031.