Another helmet petition...

[magnatom]

I'm not sure the government would fund this, but I'd be interested to see what their answer to the petition would be. So, I'll be signing it.

I think some good quality research is certainly needed to put to rest/ or at least provide a solid basis for the helmet/no helmet arguments.

 

[numbnuts]

I think some good quality research is certainly needed to put to rest/ or at least provide a solid basis for the helmet/no helmet arguments.

and if you let sleeping dogs lie, at least we have an option, some do some don’t

 

[Twanger]

A family friend was scalped and in a coma for three days after coming off on a gravel off-road path and landing head first. He survived almost intact personality wise. But despite this, and the fact that I wear a helmet I think it's personal choice and I just wish people would stop politicising it. We're all grown ups right.

I think two questions are being conflated in what I have seen of the debate. One is "Am I going to wear a cycle helmet?" and it is, as you say, personal. I wear one when I commute because I have this mental image of my head hitting a granite kerbstone without one. I just think a layer of anything is better than nothing in such a situation. I don't need research for that decision. I might need research to choose the best helmet for me, but I don't need it to make the decision to wear one in the first place.

The second question is "Should cycle helmets be compulsory?" and it's totally different. And it's not personal. From what I have seen, the answer is a fairly clear "no".

 

[jnb]

..this time by me:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/cyclehelmettest/

Got sick of all the rubbish put about, and decided the best way to counter that was to offer an alternative voice. I've asked for research on them to prove or disprove what benefits they offer rather than relying on outdated research and heresay.

The confusion in part seems to be fueling the calls for helmet laws and no one has stopped to ask "what will they actually protect me from?" If the manufacturers dont know then how can the public ask for laws.

Totally counter productive. Government has not responded favourably to any of the petitions on that site, so you wouldn't get any funding, and it is more likely to draw attention to a non issue. Draw attention to it and some 'caring' numpty in parliament will decide that compulsion is a good idea. Campaign against it if it ever becomes a serious issue but not until then.

 

[Tynan]

anecdotal naturally but my last rather smart helmet is in the loft with the right side broken in from hitting a paving stone, I broke a bone in my shoulder and knocked myself out at the same time, I suppose it might have made the accident worse but I doubt it

I agree that the time between needing it might be very large but cycling does offer a enhanced chance to smack your skull smartly into something hard that a lot of other activities like the much quoted walking down the street don't

 

[HJ]

anecdotal naturally but my last rather smart helmet is in the loft with the right side broken in from hitting a paving stone, I broke a bone in my shoulder and knocked myself out at the same time, I suppose it might have made the accident worse but I doubt it

I agree that the time between needing it might be very large but cycling does offer a enhanced chance to smack your skull smartly into something hard that a lot of other activities like the much quoted walking down the street don't

Rather depends on how you ride doesn't it...

The evidence from hospital admittances suggests, that for the general population, it does not...

 

[jonredhornet]

Signed.

Somebody mentioned earlier that they weren't aware of any severe head injuries caused when a motor vehicle wasn't involved.

I'm very aware of one. My Uncle Tony who is now in his 70's (and still cycles everywhere and is a member of the Saracen club in Birmingham) suffered severe brain injuries twenty years ago when he came off his bike without a helmet. He was wearing toe clips and his head smacked off the road.

I know some cyclists don't see much point in wearing them, but something is better than nothing and with proper regulation and testing (like motorbike helmets have) it can only serve to benefit us.

 

[jnb]

I know some cyclists don't see much point in wearing them, but something is better than nothing and with proper regulation and testing (like motorbike helmets have) it can only serve to benefit us.

It could actually be counter productive.

Legislation to ensure that helmets reach a certain standard would be useful, but the general presentation of cycling as a risky activity probably puts more people off cycling. Helmet use is a good idea, but if that helmet use is at the expense of fewer people cycling then overall it is doing harm to the health of the population.

 

[hackbike 666]

anecdotal naturally but my last rather smart helmet is in the loft with the right side broken in from hitting a paving stone, I broke a bone in my shoulder and knocked myself out at the same time, I suppose it might have made the accident worse but I doubt it

I agree that the time between needing it might be very large but cycling does offer a enhanced chance to smack your skull smartly into something hard that a lot of other activities like the much quoted walking down the street don't

It's a personal choice and im happy with the way it is now.I've never had that sort of thing and long may it continue but I know a bloke at work who had an accident and his helmet saved him allegedly.I think he wears a helmet most of the time due to this incident and I respect him a lot for his opinion.He hasn't been cycling a long time but has become very knowlegable about cycling in a very short time.

Yes I wear a helmet most of the time probably because I am older now and feel more vulnerable.when I get injured it takes more time to heal.

 

[Billloudon]

I had an accident some 4 weeks ago now. I was wearing my "new" helmet - a present for father's day. No one else involved bar the mud on a cycle path tight corner.
The helmet is now bashed and cracked, the bike a write off, ribs and shoulder recovering.
I never used to wear the things but I will now

 

[downfader]

JNB - would you drive a car without it being fully tested? Or use a TV that someone has just cobbled together? OK, bit of an overexageration.

We use helmets despite the lack or realworld testing, yes they will work in a minor scrape, but we know little more. We have a bunch of anecdotes from a few doctors that is untested, yet quoted moreoften than any other "research"; we have numbers thrown about like the "85%" and "100,000 serious accidents" which have been tested and proved wrong, yet rear their heads constantly.

I dont expect the government will do anything. I would like to spur a call for clarification, education and honest reviewed research. I dont think its counter productive to seek the facts.

Helmet legislation will happen, of this I am sure, just as many years down the line segregation of cycles from motor vehicles will probably also happen too.

 

[jnb]

JNB - would you drive a car without it being fully tested? Or use a TV that someone has just cobbled together? OK, bit of an overexageration.

No, which is why I said ...

Legislation to ensure that helmets reach a certain standard would be useful

We use helmets despite the lack or realworld testing, yes they will work in a minor scrape, but we know little more.
I dont expect the government will do anything. I would like to spur a call for clarification, education and honest reviewed research. I dont think its counter productive to seek the facts.

Totally agree and I'd be more than happy to seem someone do some research to establlish real standard. I'm not saying that it would be counterproductive to carry out that research, I'm saying that campaigning to make the government have an interest in the issue would be counterproductive. I doubt they would fund the research in response to a petition like this but raising awareness of what in overall terms is a non issue could make them produce a typical knee jerk response.

One might usefully compare it to motorcycle helmet legislation. Prior to legislation helmet use was common and compulsory helmets had little effect on accident rates and casualty rates other than by reducing the number of people using bikes. Maybe it's just the cynic in me but I could just see a situation where some government nanny decides compulsion is the way forward and a few years later bicycles are a thing of the past for all but a few diehards.

 

[NormanD]

I have to ask a quetion here (since I don't know the answer) but is it complusory to wear a helmet in a road race / mountain bike event / any organised cycle event?

having watched the tour de france (first time I took an interest in the race) I noticed not a single person was riding without a helmet on.

So if the organisers / health and safety of such events insist a helmet must be worn, wouldn't they and the riders know more about the benefits to wearing one?

I wear one because the helmet is thicker than my scalp although the wife might disagree with that

Norm

 

[downfader]

I have to ask a quetion here (since I don't know the answer) but is it complusory to wear a helmet in a road race / mountain bike event / any organised cycle event?

having watched the tour de france (first time I took an interest in the race) I noticed not a single person was riding without a helmet on.

So if the organisers / health and safety of such events insist a helmet must be worn, wouldn't they and the riders know more about the benefits to wearing one?

I wear one because the helmet is thicker than my scalp although the wife might disagree with that

Norm

Various cycling bodies have made it compulsary. Is it the UCI for Le Tour? I think it is compulsary there, yes, though oddly better brakes are not, LOL!

 

[HJ]

I have to ask a quetion here (since I don't know the answer) but is it complusory to wear a helmet in a road race / mountain bike event / any organised cycle event?

having watched the tour de france (first time I took an interest in the race) I noticed not a single person was riding without a helmet on.

So if the organisers / health and safety of such events insist a helmet must be worn, wouldn't they and the riders know more about the benefits to wearing one?

I wear one because the helmet is thicker than my scalp although the wife might disagree with that

Norm

It has nothing much to do with safety and a lot to do with sponsorship, cycle helmets are a multi million pound business. When helmet were first introduced there was a great deal of resistance from the rider, they still don't wear them on the climbs, but at the end of the day money talks and the sponsors got their way. Wearing a helmet will not save your life, as (sadly) has been proven on The Tour. It may reduces the risk of minor head injury, but may also increase the risk of face and neck injury. You make your choice and you pay money (or not if you have enough sense), but it is your choice...