Safe Speed Forums

But only last week .. CW advised me to wear a face mask as well - complete with a charocoal filter.. and also told me that my helmet kept the gunge out of my hair

I will write up the gist of what th article was about in due course,

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Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

Its a serious question, There are many things that put me off the idea of cycling more, the idea of having to wear a helmet isnt even on the list



I can see that if people are going to work/shopping (but having said that, there are other aspects of cycling for these purposes that would put me off far more, and, in any case, most "safety" procedures are a pain, which is why so many people ignore/circumvent them (and get hurt as a consequence))



Again why? "Casual" cycling is likly to be circular (IYSWIM) the issue of carrying a helmet around all day is unlikly to apply. Helmet wearing doesnt discourage me one iota on my "casual" rides



Isnt it?



And how was this cause and effect established?? Are all animals with four legs cows??

Having said that, Oz is rather hotter than Old Blighty, I can imagine that a helmet could be pretty uncomfortable at times



I dont know, though I would have thought that there would have been figures compiled at the time of the legislation (when was it BTW)



Again why?? Clerly the "Anti-helmet law " camp regard the idea as about as pointless as legislation requiring everybody to wear brown shoes when walking in public. A pain maybe, but would such a requirement really stop you from walking? (Except as some sort of hissy_fit, point making excercise)

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"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

Er, no.

People in Holland don't wear helmets, it's unknown, I don't hear of hudnreds of cyclists being killed simply though the act of cycling.

Now, being hit by a car is dangerous, but that's got nothing to do with the act of cycling.

I've cycled in Holland. Quite a lot of them do wear helmets actually. You cannot judge the whole country based on the odd visit to Amsterdam

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

Ridiculous. You don't wear a helmet whilst working on a building site because getting hit on the head by bricks all day is part of the job, but it is a distinct possibility. Such is the case with being hit by a car, or indeed hitting a car, whilst cycling.

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Regulation without education merely creates more criminals.

Don't you think that comes over as a teeny weeny bit hypocritical?

If I said I thought motorists shouldn't wear seatbelts but cyclists should wear helmets, you'd be all over me like a cheap suit!

What is more, Though I havnt been to Holland since the 70's and things might be diferent now, Dutch highways, even in the city centre, are frequently provided with completly segragated cycle "roads" often with their own sets of traffic lights to keep them separate from motorised traffic (appart from the speed restricted mopeds/small scooters which were also allowed to use the cycle paths)

What you have to watch out for in Holland is the Trams!

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"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

No



Yes I would.

Again, seatbelts are of an obvious saftey benefit, cycle helmets are not.

I wear a seatbelt when I drive and I don't wear a cycle helmet when I cycle.

It's not hard!

My last word on this one. I now have a fairly decent sized dint in the top my helmet, caused by sudden deceleration of the bike, going over the handlebars and my head contacting the ground. If I had not been wearing said piece of foam I believe I would have been a twitching mess on the ground! I admit I am not the most skilled rider in the world and for reasons I won't go into I think it was mostly my fault. However I don't think I can ever be the disuaded by the no hlemet brigade afte that fall, I was doing 20mph plus and got away with a two sore wrists, a sore collar bone and a deep gash to my shin bone (and a damaged brake lever)
CCTV got it, looks good too!

If you're still wearing the helmet you are going against manufacturer's advice...

Indeed, the polystyrene decreases the rate of deceleration by its deformation, but its a one shot thing, same as motorcycle helmets. Even if it looks fine, its not a risk worth taking with your precious bonce. I'd bite the bullet and shell (no pun intended) out on a new one mate!

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Regulation without education merely creates more criminals.

Binned it, and requested new one from stores. Going out on the Motorbike tonight instead!

Meanwhile Sunday Sexpress writes on page 2 that ministers have requested a full scientific study into helmets with a view to making them compulsory for kids by the end of this year

This study forms part of a wider report into cycling safety wgucg a#will aslo be examining the attitudes and behaviour of cyclists - with specific regard to ignoring the rules of the road - such as ignoring red lights and riding on pavements

The paper notes that cyclling organisations have resisted all previous attempts to make wearing of helmets compulsory - saying that it would put folk off cycling as the main argument (which is basically popply cock as helmet wearing has not stopped bikers at all)

They argue the scientific data is inconsisent - with some of the studies preferred by them - suggesting helmets increase injury risk.

Again "poppycock" as scientific research suggests we all carry certain genes - but that does not mean actually succumbing to whatever.

Two years ago th governemtn rejected parliamentary efforts to push through laws on helmets - arguing more scientific research was needed, Now Transpor Minister Jum Fitzpatrick has ordered a comprhensive review of helmets to review how many lives could be saved if made compulsory - though sources indicate this would only apply to children

Angela Lee - a paediatric trauma nurse who heads the BICYV~CLE INITIATIVE TRUST is quoted




She sees a lot more head injuries than most as a trauma nurse./

The government will also be looking at problem cyclists.. with a view to implementing Ken Livingstone's "number plate idea"




The leader column




Fair comment .

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

Goood. They also need replacing every couple of years as sun and weaterh also takes tolls on them.

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

Seatbelt: might save your life, won't save anyone else's. Compulsory use could be seen as an infringement of personal choice.

Helmet: might save your life, won't save anyone else's. Compulsory use could be seen as an infringement of personal choice.

Please explain the difference, as I can't see it.

David C Brown, Physicist and Engineer, who understands the concept of angular momentum is quoted

"There is no question that helmets can exacerbate certain types of head injury. It is common sense. If you increase the radius of someone's head rotational forces will be increased in the same proportion"

It is worth noting that nurses are rarely very knowledgeable about science or statistics and that appealing to "common sense" is not widely accepted as a good way of ascertaining truth

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

The same apples to seatbelts. They undergo "Plastic" deformation aswell, I understand that even quite minor decelerations will "use up" some of the capacity to absorb energy and that they should be replaced even after really quite modest fender benders (anything that leaves a bruise certainly)

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"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

Presumably so can seatbelts, the real issue is the proportion of these accidents to ones where the seatbelt/helmet will be of benefit.

I think it is blinkered in the extreme to discount the informed opinions of medical professionals, on medical matters, in favour of someone with no medical training.





I see

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Regulation without education merely creates more criminals.

Indeed, hopefully insurance would cover this, though I doubt its done routinely.

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Regulation without education merely creates more criminals.

Quite agree. But a doctor in A & E has no special qualifications for ascertaining the efficacy of accident prevention measures.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown