Austria introduces helmet requirement for children

Following the skiing accident involving Thuringian Minister-President Dieter Althaus (CDU) last winter, more and more voices in Austria and Germany have called for a general helmet requirement on the ski slopes of the Alps. The New Year’s Day skiing accident in which a woman was killed was just one prominent example, supporters of a helmet requirement argued; ski helmets were proving their life-saving value in the Alps every day. At least as far as children are concerned, Austria’s federal states have now set a joint law in motion, which is to be implemented as early as the coming winter.

Until now, Lower Austria was the only federal state in Austria with a helmet requirement. The rest of the Alpine republic is now following its example, although the details of the new requirement still need to be clarified. For example, it is not yet known how much the fine for violating the helmet requirement on the ski slopes in the Alps will be, or how compliance will be monitored. However, Austria is expected to follow neighbouring Italy’s example, where this task is carried out by police officers.

The helmet requirement in Austria is to apply to children up to and including age 14 and will initially be trialled until 2012. No penalties or fines are expected before then, but children and young people can expect a stern warning and a reminder of the dangers they face. Wearing a ski helmet will therefore become part of the general slope rules for children in Austria from now on during winter holidays in the Alps. The slope rules are posted for consultation in most hotels in Tyrol and other ski regions in Austria.