Helmet debate Radio 2 lunchtime today

[R80RT]

Yes but my point is 'my head, my decsision' etc.

If it were 'my drink drive limit, my decsision' then my actions would doubtless lead to other people's heads being smashed thru no fault or choice of there own.

One cannot apply the same train of thought to all rules etc.

[aesmith]

Yes I absolutely agree. I have never worn a cycle helmet except where compelled by the rules at mountain bike events, I don't like them and I don't think they add to my safety. My argument against helmet compulsion would be based on the last point - they do not provide a significant safety benefit, so there should be no reason not to leave it to individual choice.

Unfortunately everyone who chooses a helmet weakens our position, whether or not they speak up for freedom of choice.

[EdinburghFixed]

It seems that some people think that even we adults are not fit to make that choice for ourselves.

Just about all traffic rules and laws are made on that basis, speed limits for example, and drink-driving limits.

That's not such a good example. Take speed limits for example - it's simple science that the energy you impart in a crash is proportional to your speed squared - so a driver doing 35mph in a 30 zone hits with 50% more force. This, combined with the horrendous 30,000 killed or seriously injured by car drivers each year, is why it's worth keeping speeds under control.

On the other hand there's little evidence that helmets save lives, and good evidence that they may in fact do the opposite. Sadly "common sense" seems to override the evidence in this case!

[aesmith]

It seems that some people think that even we adults are not fit to make that choice for ourselves.

Just about all traffic rules and laws are made on that basis, speed limits for example, and drink-driving limits.

I was maybe unclear. What I meant was that speed limits are needed because not all drivers can be trusted to make their own choice about what's a safe speed.

[Kirst]

So the big mystery remains, as half of cyclists do not wear helmets, where are all the dead and brain damaged non-helmet wearers?

They're listening to Jeremy Vine.

[professorlandslide]

Yes I absolutely agree. I have never worn a cycle helmet except where compelled by the rules at mountain bike events, I don't like them and I don't think they add to my safety. My argument against helmet compulsion would be based on the last point - they do not provide a significant safety benefit, so there should be no reason not to leave it to individual choice.

Unfortunately everyone who chooses a helmet weakens our position, whether or not they speak up for freedom of choice.

Riight... So if i choose to wear a lid its incrementally making you wear one? Ookay.

What is this debate anyway? Who cares? We know the media kicks off all the time anyway, so what? Wear what you wanna wear, ride what you wanna ride. I thought this was meant to be about freedom or something? How about stopping whining about the fact that some other people might be making different choices and just riding our dang bikes? I'll do my thing, you do yours...

[aesmith]

Sorry professor. I just get so much grief all the time because I don't wear a helmet, that I get a bit more heated than's really justified.

[EdinburghFixed]

Unfortunately everyone who chooses a helmet weakens our position, whether or not they speak up for freedom of choice.

Riight... So if i choose to wear a lid its incrementally making you wear one? Ookay.

Well, isn't it? Here the official line is that a "prudent cyclist" - one who wants to receive the full backing of the law - MUST wear a helmet.

There is no requirement to wear one but the attitude of insurers, police and judiciary, and society at large says otherwise.

Yet all the scientific brilliance of the western world, backed by the money of the helmet manufacturers has failed to show any significant benefit to wearing a helmet. In countries where lots of people cycle (and consequently, cycle in safety) the idea of wearing a helmet for something less dangerous than walking to the corner shop is bizarre. In the UK most people would be amazed if you told them that bare-headed cycling is statistically the safest way to get around.

Sadly, I wear a helmet to remove one excuse from the victim blamers and myself contribute to this growing problem