The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Management (KCDC) said Sunday that only 3 percent of children aged from three to 18 wear helmets while riding bicycles, according to a survey conducted from 2005 to 2008.
The survey said 2.4 percent of children from 3 to 11 years old wore protective helmets in 2007 and 3.2 percent did so in 2008.
In 2008, bicycle accidents accounted for 14 percent of traffic accident victims with 46 percent of them being under 20 years old.
In the United States, the helmet-wearing rate was 3.8 percent in 1991, but education and guidance campaigns raised the rate to 14.9 percent in 2007.
The KCDC suggested wearing fitted helmets, and avoiding bicycling under the influence of alcohol as good ways to ensure safe bike riding.
"It is necessary to wear bicycle helmets to prevent possible injury. Parents and teachers should educate children to wear helmets," a KCDC official said. Bicycles are becoming popular nationwide, with President Lee Myung-bak leading the way for its strengthes of promoting health and saving energy.
meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
N. Korea releases propaganda photos of US bomber, supercarrier under attack 
Luxurious Seoul tower prepares for inter-Korean war 
South Korea expresses regret over distorted Japanese media reports 
US flies B-1B bombers off N. Korea coast 
Family names cause problems for some multicultural children 
Dead lizard found in can of candy at commissary 
China 'must be ready' for war on the Korean peninsula 
Survival kits provided as Chuseok gifts amid geopolitical tension 
US B1-B bombers fly off North Korea's eastern coast 
China bans supplies of petroleum products to N. Korea 
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
