Chelsea Police Department Receives Bicycle Helmet Award
Chief Brian A. Kyes announced today that the Chelsea Police Department has been awarded bicycle helmets as part of the 2010 statewide bicycle safety program of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The program provided more than 14,490 helmets to 157 communities and organizations for distribution this summer. There are no additional helmets available from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for distribution in 2010. “We are pleased to receive these helmets to enhance our bicycle safety efforts in Chelsea,” said Chief Kyes.~ “The helmets will be distributed at no cost in our community.” Massachusetts law requires children 16 years of age or younger who operate a bicycle, or who ride as a passenger on a bicycle, on a public way or bike path to wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet. A bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of serious head and brain injury by as much as 90%. Unfortunately, 89% of people killed in bicycle crashes with motor vehicles were not wearing a helmet. For more information on the bicycle helmet law and bicycle safety tips, go to www.mass.gov/highwaysafety. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security will also distribute its current bicycle safety poster throughout the communities and organizations that will receive helmet awards. Since 2006, there have been 27 bicycle-related fatalities, of which 85% were male. Of the 23 cases involving men, 17 were over 35 years of age. The 10 – 15 year old age group accounted for 18% of the fatalities.
The Chelsea Police are planning to distribute the helmets to Chelsea students as part of a bicycle safety awareness campaign during the upcoming school year. For more information contact Captain Edward Martin at 617-466-4834
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