Warning about fines for not wearing bike helmets

Police Minister Graham Edwards has warned Western Australia's 750,000 cyclists that from July 1 they face a $25 fine for failing to wear a bike helmet.

"Bike riders have now had six months to be prepared," Mr Edwards said.

"In that time police have stopped thousands of cyclists seen without helmets to advise them about the new law.

"From July 1 police will be getting out their notebooks and enforcing the law."

Mr Edwards said adults could be issued with a $25 infringement notice or be asked to attend minor offender lectures, depending on the circumstances.

However, the Police Department had said it would cancel the infringement notice if offenders produced a receipt showing they had bought a helmet within 14 days of the offence.

Juveniles would be sent to minor offender lectures and be required to have a parent attend, or they could be dealt with by the Children's Suspended Action panel.

Repeat offenders could face the Children's Court.

Mr Edwards said parents who took toddlers for a bike ride would have to ensure that they both wore helmets, or face a fine.

"Since compulsory bike helmet legislation was introduced in January there has been a significant drop in road deaths and serious head injuries among cyclists," Mr Edwards said.

Last year eight cyclists died on WA roads, but so far this year only one had been killed - a 32-year-old male who failed to wear a helmet.

Child Accident Prevention Foundation research showed that for the six months to the end of May, 13 juveniles who rode without helmets had been admitted to hospital with severe concussion.

There had been no cases of concussion among youngsters wearing helmets.

"I have also had contact with numerous parents in the last six months who say their kids could have been killed or seriously head injured had they not been wearing a bike helmet," Mr Edwards said.

Children's bike helmets could still be purchased at all schools and Government rebates were available for supporting parents, pensioners and people with health benefit cards.

"A public awareness campaign will be run on TV and in the press over the next two weeks alerting cyclists that bike helmet laws will soon be enforced," Mr Edwards said.