In Switzerland, almost three out of five people (59%) wear a helmet when cycling. This is the highest figure since the the swiss accident prevention agency BFU began collecting data on road behavior. Helmets are most commonly worn, at 64%, when riding for leisure (2023: 51%), and least often, at 30%, when riding to do the shopping (2023: 30%).
The helmet-wearing rate has always been higher on e‑bikes than on conventional bicycles. On fast e‑bikes (pedal assistance up to 45 km/h), 86% wear a helmet; conversely, 14% do not wear one despite the helmet requirement. On slow e‑bikes (up to 25 km/h) without a helmet requirement, the wearing rate is 70%.
Wearing a bicycle helmet: the trend is mainly in the right direction
The trend is mainly in the right direction. However, the survey also shows that the bicycle helmet is not yet as common as the ski helmet on the slopes. Yet it is a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of head injuries in an accident by half – and the risk of serious head injuries by as much as 70%. The potential for prevention is correspondingly high. The BFU therefore consistently provides information based on current scientific facts about the benefits of bicycle helmets and recommends that you always wear one when riding a bicycle or e‑bike.
Despite being mandatory: many e‑bikes are out and about during the day without their lights on
To prevent accidents from happening in the first place, the BFU’s prevention work starts with infrastructure, for example by supporting authorities and planning offices with traffic-related advice. This is because well-designed cycling infrastructure is important to increase the safety of cyclists.
While the implementation of infrastructure measures takes time and resources, cyclists themselves can also do something directly for their own safety, for example by increasing their visibility: Firstly, by switching on their lights on their e‑bike even during the day. This has been mandatory since 2022. Nevertheless, according to the latest BFU survey, only about one in three people ride a slow e‑bike with their lights on during the day. On fast e‑bikes, the figure is 69%.
On the other hand, wearing a reflective vest helps you to be seen better both in the dark and during the day. However, wearing a reflective vest while cycling is not yet very common: even at dusk and at night, only 3% of cyclists wear one, 9% on a slow e‑bike and 21% on a fast e‑bike.
Fortunately, most people today take the use of seat belts for granted when driving. The rate has been high for years. In 2024, 96% of all drivers and 95% of passengers will still be wearing seat belts. The number of people wearing seat belts in the back seat has never been higher than in 2024, at 92%.
Collecting and analyzing data on the level of safety in Switzerland is one of the BFU’s main tasks. The data is an important source of information for prevention work. The annual surveys are standardized according to defined sampling plans at various locations throughout Switzerland and conducted by people trained by the BFU. For more information, see:www.bfu.ch.
