Detention Lines: I will wear a helmet.

[Crackle]

It's obvious then; you are safer wearing a helmet in the States compared to other parts of the world, notably Australia. Or, if you are in an accident wearing a helmet come over here to have it (though you'll have to have health insurance mind you).

The Antipodean studies are based around compulsory helmet wearing and it's effects on overall risk. I find they don't really address the issue of helmet effectivness but legislation effectivness. This study sees to be addressing helmet effectiveness directly and isn't skewed towards examining legislation.

The other interesting thing about the site was an explanation of likely impact speeds; very informative.

 

[Crackle]

There is a critique of that paper here:
http://www.cyclehelmets.org/1068.html

Yep OK, caught bang to rights. Forget my post quoting the study and part of my last post. I should have gone off and read the whole thing before I posted the excerpt.

 

[jonesy]

The Antipodean studies are based around compulsory helmet wearing and it's effects on overall risk. I find they don't really address the issue of helmet effectivness but legislation effectivness. This study sees to be addressing helmet effectiveness directly and isn't skewed towards examining legislation.

The other interesting thing about the site was an explanation of likely impact speeds; very informative.

Absolutely. It isn't just the effectiveness of helmets at reducing injury in individual accidents that counts, we also have to assess the effectiveness of promotion and compulsion when applied to large populations. It is perfectly possible both for helmets to offer a real benefit in certain types of accident (which is why I usually wear one) and for compulsion to be ineffective and/or counter-productive at the population level (which is why I'm opposed to compulsion).

 

[BentMikey]

I agree with crackle on the antipodean studies showing how compulsion is bad. I rather suspect that a culture of helmet wearing will have much the same effect as compulsion though, i.e. a negative effect on cycling and cycling safety.

When the benefits outweigh the risks so much, we can't afford not to have people cycling.

 

[Crackle]

Absolutely. It isn't just the effectiveness of helmets at reducing injury in individual accidents that counts, we also have to assess the effectiveness of promotion and compulsion when applied to large populations. It is perfectly possible both for helmets to offer a real benefit in certain types of accident (which is why I usually wear one) and for compulsion to be ineffective and/or counter-productive at the population level (which is why I'm opposed to compulsion).

I agree entirely with that and am also opposed to compulsion, not just because it's effect would be counter productive but as someone said earlier it impinges upon my rights to make an individual choice, contributes to an increasingly risk adverse society with a decreasing understanding of self sufficiency and risk managment and all the attendant litigation that accompanies it and well ............................. just takes the bloody fun out of life!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I rather suspect that a culture of helmet wearing will have much the same effect as compulsion though, i.e. a negative effect on cycling and cycling safety.

Sorry that's bollocks. There's no evidence for it. You have gone from the perfectly legitimate position that most of us share that compulsion is not desirable to the unsupported and irrational perspective that helmet wearing in general has a 'negative effect'. You've crossed this line more than once in this thread, and I wonder why - people immediately jump on emotional and irrational pro-helmet arguments, yet this is equally silly and is very unhelpful and divisive to boot.

 

[BentMikey]

You really feel strongly about this, don't you?

The evidence that compulsion is bad for safety and for cycling is very clear, I assume you're not debating this. Compulsion isn't really any different to a culture of helmet wearing in the effects, and it is only my opinion after all, clearly stated as such.

 

[HJ]

So if there is anyone out there not wearing a helmet, please get one.

Would wearing a helmet make you less likely to make a stupid mistake??

Cycle helmet are a waste of time, simply engage brain before riding...

 

[4F]

Would wearing a helmet make you less likely to make a stupid mistake??

Cycle helmet are a waste of time, simply engage brain before riding...

Good summing up of the thread, like it

 

[Maz]

Would wearing a helmet make you less likely to make a stupid mistake??

Cycle helmet are a waste of time, simply engage brain before riding...

That should say helmets. What a stupid mistake . Maybe use should wear a helmet next time.

 

[dudi]

Would wearing a helmet make you less likely to make a stupid mistake??

Cycle helmet are a waste of time, simply engage brain before riding...

would wearing a cycle helmet cause you to make a stupid mistake?

Cycle helmets are another form of defense against some forms of injury, in the event of an accident occuring.

Simply engage your brain before riding whether you are wearing a helmet or not.

 

[dudi]

That should say helmets. What a stupid mistake . Maybe use should wear a helmet next time.

come on. if you're correcting spelling, at least make sure your post is correct!

 

[4F]

Simply engage your brain before riding whether you are wearing a helmet or not.

If only the OP had done that before cycling into a concrete bollard. It would have saved over 200 posts and 21 pages

 

[dudi]

If only the OP had done that before cycling into a concrete bollard. It would have saved over 200 posts

 

[4F]

By the way did you see the link at the top of the page for the cyclechat kit order form