The Helmet Debate

[Arfcollins]

I have different figures.

The ones I have are from a US medical centre that looked at helmet wearing.
60% of children had helmets that were more than half an inch out in fit. They then suggested that when head injuries were experienced that ove half the victims in this age group had an inch difference between the correct fitting and the one actually worn.


Their main concern was that 14% of helmets actually came off during the crash!

The conclusion was that helmets should be fitted by trained staff a redesign of helmets for children to make them ft better.

While it would be tragic if a child suffered an avoidable head injury because of an ill fitting helmet I would guess (and this would be classified as a religious belief as I have no data) that most commuters who have bought a helmet have selected the one that best fits their head.

And while you have supplied data about helmets coming off being their main concern, 14% of helmets coming off means that 86% stayed on. This means that there is a very good chance that the potential injuries of 86% of children were avoided by wearing a helmet and the potential injuries of 14% of children who would have been injured by wearing a helmet were also avoided, so no-one was hurt.

And that's a fact.

 

[Nantmor]

While it would be tragic if a child suffered an avoidable head injury because of an ill fitting helmet I would guess (and this would be classified as a religious belief as I have no data) that most commuters who have bought a helmet have selected the one that best fits their head.

And while you have supplied data about helmets coming off being their main concern, 14% of helmets coming off means that 86% stayed on. This means that there is a very good chance that the potential injuries of 86% of children were avoided by wearing a helmet and the potential injuries of 14% of children who would have been injured by wearing a helmet were also avoided, so no-one was hurt.

And that's a fact.

No, it is not a fact. Potential injuries can only avoided by supposition. By definition potential means might happen. "Religious belief" is quite right. Noone can say anything about injuries which did not happen.
None of the studies of states where helmet compulsion has resulted in sudden big increases in helmet wearing show any discernable reduction in cyclist casualty rates.
Helmets are sold in Wilkos these days. When I sold them I had to tell nearly every buyer that they should be worn level, not perched jauntily on the back of the head. (I gave up selling the damn things) Fitting a helmet is quite skilled. I don't believe that most vendors even try to fit them properly.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

While it would be tragic if a child suffered an avoidable head injury because of an ill fitting helmet I would guess (and this would be classified as a religious belief as I have no data) that most commuters who have bought a helmet have selected the one that best fits their head.

And while you have supplied data about helmets coming off being their main concern, 14% of helmets coming off means that 86% stayed on. This means that there is a very good chance that the potential injuries of 86% of children were avoided by wearing a helmet and the potential injuries of 14% of children who would have been injured by wearing a helmet were also avoided, so no-one was hurt.

And that's a fact.

.
Errrr, no that's not a "fact" it's a string of suppositions. To quote someone from another place , it was close to "policy based evidence making"

 

[DresdenDoom]

I do like that quote LYB, where was it from?

 

[Arfcollins]

No, it is not a fact. Potential injuries can only avoided by supposition. By definition potential means might happen. "Religious belief" is quite right. Noone can say anything about injuries which did not happen.
None of the studies of states where helmet compulsion has resulted in sudden big increases in helmet wearing show any discernable reduction in cyclist casualty rates.
Helmets are sold in Wilkos these days. When I sold them I had to tell nearly every buyer that they should be worn level, not perched jauntily on the back of the head. (I gave up selling the damn things) Fitting a helmet is quite skilled. I don't believe that most vendors even try to fit them properly.

I suspect you are quite right (no data again unfortunately) that it is quite easy to wear a helmet incorrectly. I'm sure we've all even seen someone wear one back to front!

The point I was making with my ridiculous argument in my previous post is that there is conflicting evidence of whether helmets are a good thing or a bad thing. I think they are a good thing because I have fallen off my bike twice (no other vehicle involved, high speed or otherwise) and both times my head hit the ground - hard. Both times the helmets were damaged, and I have a preference for damaged helmets over damaged skulls.

There are probably those here who can provide me with statistics that 'prove' that next time I have an accident my helmet will cause my head to be ripped off or my brain to be liquidised. They won't change my mind, because I have a religious belief that helmets are good despite their having a religious belief that they are bad.

This debate has been fun but was only worthwhile if any of the readers has either started or stopped wearing a helmet because of what they have read here. Any takers?

 

[DresdenDoom]

Health and Safety is the new religion. The proponents are the prophets, the agnostics are heretics who must be converted. I say NO to Hi-Viz

 

[Arfcollins]

Health and Safety is the new religion. The proponents are the prophets, the agnostics are heretics who must be converted. I say NO to Hi-Viz

Sorry, but that is off-topic unless you're talking about hi-viz helmets.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

I do like that quote LYB, where was it from?

Uk.Rec.Cycling

 

[DresdenDoom]

Was just expanding the horizon. Actually just pulling in a hate that I hate sooooo much more than helmets. Apologies, I'll start a newly contentious topic.

 

[DresdenDoom]

Uk.Rec.Cycling

Usenet? Is that still alive?? Blimey!!!

 

[doog]

That's contrary to my experience, which countries have you been cycling in?

toured Spain and France bottom to top

Everyone on a bike had a helmet on... apart from one bloke down near Limoux

 

[Arfcollins]

Was just expanding the horizon. Actually just pulling in a hate that I hate sooooo much more than helmets. Apologies, I'll start a newly contentious topic.

Hurry up, I'm going to bed soon and I don't want to miss anything.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

Usenet? Is that still alive?? Blimey!!!

Barely! :-(

 

[Arfcollins]

toured Spain and France bottom to top

Everyone on a bike had a helmet on... apart from one bloke down near Limoux

Jeez, those Limoux cyclists!

 

[DresdenDoom]

Hurry up, I'm going to bed soon and I don't want to miss anything.

Suffer damn you - suspense is all