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Operation Headway
Operation Headway is a multi-partner program that combines enforcement of helmet legislation, education and economic penalty for not wearing helmets as well as rewards for wearing helmets.
It was developed in Nova Scotia (NS), with a population of 940,000, in 2004, with collaboration between Halifax Police, QEII Neurosurgery and The Brain Injury Association of NS (BIANS). Nova Scotia has run the program eight times from 2004 to 2009. In 2009, Prince Edward Island (PEI), with a population of 143,000, ran the program in two areas of the province.
The program relies heavily on the commitment of both Municipal Police and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to actively enforce the provincial helmet legislation. When riders are ticketed by police, they are given the option to either pay the fine or to attend a one-time only education session called Noggin’ Knowledge. Police also had the option to give out rewards for persons wearing helmets and provide helmets gift cards for children and adults who could not afford helmets. Bike helmet observations studies were conducted to monitor changes in rates of helmet use.
The goal of this program was to reduce bike related head injuries by increasing bike helmet use among all ages.
Below is a downloadable toolkit to help guide you to implement this program in your community. The program was developed to be scalable and can be suitable in a small or large community.
Download the full Kit:
Operation Headway Toolkit - English NEW
Download individual Kit sections:
Note: all sections are included in the full kit
How to Run a Police Operation Headway Program
Sample Operation Headway and Noggin Knowledge Agenda
Helmets for Injury Prevention in Sports
Special thanks to ThinkFirst Nova Scotia Chapter, the IWK/QEII Division of Neurosurgery and the Department of Health and Wellness for the success in developing Operation Headway and implementing it since 2004.
For more information about this innovative program, please feel free to contact Lynne Fenerty of ThinkFirst Nova Scotia at lynne.fenerty@cdha.nshealth.ca
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