Italy leads the way
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Italy was the first country to pass a law (in 2005) making it compulsory for children under 14 to wear a ski helmet.
Last year, two Austrian provinces (Upper and Lower Austria) followed suit in the wake of the Althaus ski incident (see panel right).
It's also mandatory for children under 14 in Slovenia to wear ski helmets.
Most ski schools in European and American resorts have their own requirements that children wear helmets while in that area of the ski slopes.
Internationally, no adults are compelled by law to wear ski helmets and it seems that there are no plans to change that any time soon.
Authorities in Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy and Germany have said they will not force skiers to wear a helmet but do encourage their use.
Irish Independent
