Partial Bike Helmet Law in Slovakia
Magyarul a criticalmass.hu-n.
[In Slovakia, bike] helmets were made compulsory for kids below 15 and outside urban areas. In the later, reflective jackets are also required.
from: Index.hu (Hungarian)
I can only hope this does not lead to dramatic decrease in cycling. As it did in Spain, for example (and Australia, for that matter):
[The] 2004 a reform of the General Regulation of Traffic [...] had some points in that regulation breaking that positive tendency. The compulsory helmet regulation in interurban routes created a serious sensation on which bicycle was a risk sport, ignoring its function like means of transport, means of healthful leisure and tool for cyclotouring.
from ECF
from cyclehelmets.org
further explanation on why despite the minimal* positive effect of helmets, helmet laws are so descructive on cyclist numbers and hence safety itself:
What effect has mandatory helmet legislation had?
my complete delicious links for bike helmets including The Great Bike Helmet Histeria 
from Copenhagen.
* I am now talking about utility cycling (as in Highway Code of Slovakia), not cycling the sport (as in a MTB marathon requiring helmet wear).
Full disclosure: I do wear a helmet a lot because it irrationally makes me more comfortable riding. But I have stopped bitching about you wearing one. (I stopped doing that in 2006 autumn. I did do that before, a lot. I am sorry, education takes time.)
January 21st, 2009 at 09:20
[...] helmet law in SK despite bad experiences in AUS, Spain, etc. and against ECF recommendations http://daniel.sparing.hu/2009/01/21/partial-bike-helmet-law-in-slovakia/ « el?z? | Daniel Sparing — 2009. 01. 21. [...]
July 6th, 2009 at 20:20
The standard of driving in Slovakia is amongst the worst in Europe, so helmet or not, it ain’t gonna make much difference. The only reason they introduced this law was to raise money and terrorise old ladies in villages.
Slovakia is a country in transition, not sure whether it wants democracy or a return to communism, and cyclists are viewed as inferior beings by a population that has never had a cultured middle class, such as existed in the CZ or Hungary.
July 10th, 2009 at 09:29
@Anonymous: well, in Hungary neither the standard of driving, nor democracy is much better, unfortunately.
February 17th, 2010 at 09:50
The wearing of helmets is a contentious issue, especially in a developing country like Slovakia. What is more worrying are hear/say reports by foreigners transiting the country that police are demanding money from cyclists not using their lights during the day.