RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation is giving away free bicycle helmets to help prevent serious injury and even death among children riders.

The NCDOT says helmets will be given to organizations across the state to then be distributed to youth cyclists as part of its annual Bicycle Helmet Initiative. The initiative hopes to encourage more children to wear proper protective headwear while riding their bikes.

“Wearing a helmet is an easy way to reduce risk of head injuries when riding a bicycle,” said Ryan Brumfield, director of the state’s Integrated Mobility Division. “We hope the Bicycle Helmet Initiative will help reduce bicycle injuries and raise awareness about the importance of safe bicycling practices.”   

According to a study by the NCDOT Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation, less than half of all children wear a helmet while riding a bike. When worn, however, helmets help prevent 60% of head injury deaths and reduce head injury risk by up to 85%. 

Organizations can apply online with the NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division to receive allotments of 25, 50, 75 or 100 helmets. Helmets will be distributed to the organization's selected to receive the allotments beginning in the spring.

Applications are open until 5 p.m. Feb. 3. More information and guidelines for submission can be found here

Officials say the program has provided over 45,000 free helmets over the past five years, including roughly 20,000 helmets being given to 260 organizations in 2022.