Public Service Announcement
Bicycle Safety
“We All Have a Role to Play”
Information for the Public
Release Date: May 11, 2022
The Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay Municipal Enforcement Department is reminding residents that the use of bicycle helmets has been mandatory in all communities within the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador since April 1, 2015.
Did you know that head injuries are the number one cause of serious injury and death to children and youth on bicycles? The human skull is just one centimetre thick. A properly fitted helmet helps protect your brain from absorbing the force from a crash or a fall. It significantly reduces the risk of serious head injury by up to 85 percent.
The fines for not wearing a bicycle helmet can range from $25 to $180, and if a child that is 16 years of age or under is caught not wearing a helmet by an enforcement officer, the parent of that child will be required to pay the fine.
Parents and guardians are also advised to discuss the importance of bicycle safety with children, especially on highways and municipal roads.
As we see more children and adults out and about on their bicycles, motorists should proceed with caution in neighborhoods and watch for children riding their bikes. At the same time, it is vital that children watch for vehicles and not block roadways.
Bicycle safety, we all have a role to play.
For more information on bicycle helmets regulations, visit
https://www.gov.nl.ca/motorregistration/vehicle-ownership/bicycle-helmets/