HALIFAX - New rules that govern the use of helmets in Nova Scotia have been proclaimed law.
Amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act now require all bicyclists, skateboarders and in-line skaters to wear a helmet, regardless of where they are.
Critics had complained there were loopholes in the old law.
Skateboarders, for example, did not have to wear helmets when riding in skateboard parks or on private property.
The old legislation governed only road use.
Health Promotion Minister Barry Barnet says the province will also produce education programs and more research on the topic.
The government says research indicates helmet use for cycling, skateboarding and in-line skating can reduce the chance of brain injury by up to 85 per cent.
The amendments became law Jan. 12.
