Wiggo on helmets
 

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[Closed] Wiggo on helmets

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Moving off in a slightly different tack I wonder what effect Wiggo's comments may have on any chance of a compulsory helmet law being proposed? The last time it was a private members bill sponsored by some NuLab scrote in the mid 2000s, that ran out of parliamentry time. Now, with a split coalition losing what little support it had, what better way of papering over the cracks and being seen to have 'caught the public mood' and having a grip than to introduce an easy-to-pass law? And has been pointed out earlier, another useful source of chance taxation.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 9:48 am
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i suspect the police will be only to happy to escort rebel bikers to a cashpoint machine for a on the spot £80 fine should a compulsory helmet law come into existance

and what about children?

Well they always have and always will be exempt from any laws. Police would usually only go after the type of normally law abiding person anyway.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 9:50 am
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If the helmet is made legal, who is going to police the effectiveness of said helmet?
I had an off a couple of weeks ago, landing square on my helmet (certainly was painful matron) that I assume means it's time to buy a new one. But, I could quite legally ride under the new law as I would be riding with a helmet, albeit a totally ineffective one.
MOTs for helmets?

and what about children?

Providing the baby children are not called Robin, they should be OK.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 9:50 am
 D0NK
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Car drivers are sitting inside what is effectively a safety helmet.
you do know about momentum don't you? it's the reason we have seatbelts, without which you'll rattle around inside the "helmet" quite alarmingly, also despite seatbelts plenty of people unfortunately still manage to sustain head injuries. Why do motorists need special treatment*

Apologies for the glib comments but just using the same arguments


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 9:54 am
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Don Simon, thats the same with motorbike helmets. You also have the factor that the older they get they lose their effectiveness as the materials start to change. I think the recommendation is renew every 5 years.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 9:54 am
 juan
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Plus some of the 'lids' out there this now are 'well cool'!

Yeah that was what made me wear one for the first time I was IIRC 17 at the time, walking down the main street from college to catch the bus when I saw a bloke commuting down with a cool MTB and a peaked helmet and I though, wow this is so cool.
Why wouldn't people wear one is just beyond my understanding.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 9:56 am
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Most people on here can acheive 30mph on a road with a little downhill assistance. A moped is restricted to 30mph. Why do we see cyclists as anything different needing special treatment because they have to propel their transport.

Not asking for special treatment.

All I'm saying is that if you are moving quickly in amongst traffic, then your head should be protected. That could be by means of a big steel rollcage and airbags, or a helmet.

I don't think that's unreasonable, is it?

despite seatbelts plenty of people unfortunately still manage to sustain head injuries.

Er, seatbelts and airbags etc do not ELIMINATE injuries but they do REDUCE them a lot.

Are you saying if something's not 100% effective then it's worthless?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 9:58 am
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Given that one of the major arguments against helmets has been it puts people off cycling... How does Brad's success negate that factor. Looks like you could get more people cycling whilst they are also wearing helmets. EVERYONE WINS!!!


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 9:58 am
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D0NK - Member
Car drivers are sitting inside what is effectively a safety helmet.
you do know about momentum don't you? it's the reason we have seatbelts, without which you'll rattle around inside the "helmet" quite alarmingly, also despite seatbelts plenty of people unfortunately still manage to sustain head injuries. Why do motorists need special treatment*

Apologies for the glib comments but just using the same arguments


I think you have just argued my point for me. The helmet is strapped in place to keep it in a position were it is most useful. A driver is strapped in place to keep them where they are most safe whilst been able to operate the controls.
The energy in momentum is what the helmet will be trying absorb as it slams into an object from what ever speed it was doing before to nil.
Thank you for making that point for me.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 9:59 am
 loum
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simons_nicolai-uk - Member
Cyclist last night was crushed by wheels of left turning bus. Failure of infrastructure as cyclist was where current roads direct a rider.
Helmets and headphones an irrelevant distraction. Very poor response from Brad.

+1


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:08 am
 D0NK
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A driver is strapped in place to keep them where they are most safe whilst been able to operate the controls.
and yet hundreds of car occupants die from head injuries every year, why aren't you arguing for helmet compulsion in car occupants?

I'm pro helmets, I think they are a good idea and would recommend everyone use one but I think the compulsion argument is weak, flawed and comes with several drawbacks. Recommend people use them, advertise them, give them out to kids/adults whatever, just don't say you MUST wear one at all times please.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:10 am
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Helmets and headphones an irrelevant distraction

He wasn't commenting on that particular accident though.

He was talking about the responsibilities of cyclists in general, which was a fair point. Comments being taken out of context.

and yet hundreds of car occupants die from head injuries every year, why aren't you arguing for helmet compulsion in car occupants?

Because the aim is to take some steps to reduce injuries. In cars some reasonable steps have been taken - car safety, NCAP etc. For pedestrians, steps have also been taken - pavements and crossings.

Seems odd not to bother when cycling, doens't it?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:10 am
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Wiggo competes in a sport that has seen helmet compulsion. Remember when helmets were optional, then could be removed for climbing? Remember Fabio Casertelli? It's a slightly different culture to shop pootling.

Personally, I'd rather see compulsion as everyone knows where they stand. I speak as an interested party - having a teenager who knows everything and removes his to ride to school.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:12 am
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Why would you want to wear earphones and make one of your senses less effective?
You wouldn't ride with one eye closed, would you?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:13 am
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and what about children?

Pickle them?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:20 am
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Does that mean we should talk about body armour for ducks

Can we please


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:22 am
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double post


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:23 am
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one small comment by someone generates all this debate?
are you ALL trolling each other?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:23 am
 DezB
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Yay! Top thread in BIKE and bloody CHAT forums. The old round and round in ever decreasing circles helmet debate.
FANTASTIC.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:25 am
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God have mercy on my restless soul, I've spawned a monster


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:25 am
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[IMG] [/IMG]


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:27 am
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Why would you want to wear earphones and make one of your senses less effective? You wouldn't ride with one eye closed, would you?

So we have to do this one again as well....

It really is hard to believe this is a cyclists forum sometimes. It's like Daily Mail island on here.

1) Would you ban deaf/hearing impaired people from cycling?
2) Cyclists with headphones in can hear more than motorcyclists or drivers (motorcyclists often wear earplugs due to the noise on their bikes) so hearing obviously isn't a particularly important sense on the road.
3) Electric cars and other cyclists are almost silent - you can't trust your hearing. You MUST look
4) Even with headphones on I can feel/hear/sense vehicles
5) if it's an issue of distraction then by rights we should ban all in-car entertainment and ban use of telephones whether hands free or not.

All of this comes back to blaming the victim rather than making the roads safer.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:28 am
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4) Even with headphones on I can feel/hear/sense vehicles

You've been bitten by a spider.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:31 am
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You've been bitten by a spider.

Definitely have the cycling bug.... (groan). Was speaking to a motorcyclist the other day about the '6th sense' of nervousness you get about some vehicles. You don't know what is making you nervous (road speed/position in lane/position relative to other vehicles?) but your cycle-senses are tingling.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:33 am
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[s]You'[/s][b]Ha[/b]ve [b]you[/b] been bitten by a spider[b]?[/b]


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:33 am
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1) Would you ban deaf/hearing impaired people from cycling? [b]Not their choice[/b]
2) Cyclists with headphones in can hear more than motorcyclists or drivers (motorcyclists often wear earplugs due to the noise on their bikes) so hearing obviously isn't a particularly important sense on the road. [b]I imagine they use their other senses and the rear view mirrors more effectively[/b]
3) Electric cars and other cyclists are almost silent - you can't trust your hearing. You MUST look [b]Which I think is why electric car manufacturers are introducing noises to their silent cars[/b]
4) Even with headphones on I can feel/hear/sense vehicles [b]AWESOME[/b]
5) if it's an issue of distraction then by rights we should ban all in-car entertainment and ban use of telephones whether hands free or not. [b]Agreed and clearly you agree with the earphone argument[/b]

All of this comes back to blaming the victim rather than making the roads safer.


You haven't done anything to expalin why dulling one of the senses could be seen as a positive move when you have the option, except to show me that as you do it, and you are clearly AWESOME, that it should be seen as acceptable.
When i ride I listen to the traffic as I find feeling it is a bit difficult and not something I desire.
You keep riding with earphones and carrying your opinion, I'll keep riding without and mine. OK?
FYI I don't read the Daily Mail, and in fact quite a bizarre thing to say. 😕


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:36 am
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But still inconsistent that cyclist could be considered 'negligent' or 'contributing' to an accident through use of headphones when a driver could not.

Equal treatment. Not discriminating against victims. Your call obviously but not illegal, my own assessment of risk - in all the times I've cycled with headphones on I've never had a near miss as a result. I don't reckon that's going to be the thing that gets me (hence I consider it an irrelevant distraction)


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:39 am
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OK, now that I've gone away and had some lunch let me lay out my thinking when I say I want to get the message to drivers that helmets do sweet **** all in an RTC.

Please note I'm only talking about RTCs here. Not slipping on ice, forgetting to unclip or anything like that. I'm also not talking about taking defensive cycling into account. Just the RTCs where we have no control of the outcome.

A helmet is designed to protect the head in falls from a stationary position. That's the design spec. The effectiveness of helmets drops off dramatically as the force of impact increases. [i]Therefore, in low speed RTCs in a particular set of circumstances a helmet may provide some small level of protection.[/i]

Motorcycle helmets have a different design spec and they can protect your head in impacts with a greater force so the range of RTCs where it might protect you is much much greater. It would be great if we could design practical bicycle helmets that provide a similar level of protection but we can't.

Even though your brain is very important it's not the only part of you that you need to live. In fact, you need pretty much every one of your internal organs and your spinal cord to survive. You also need a circulatory system that is closed loop and not spurting blood all over the place. There are any number of ways your organs, spine, or circulatory system could be damaged in an RTC and it's much more likely to be one of these that is damaged in any RTC than your head.

The proportion of RTCs where a helmet would have helped is tiny. 99% of the time wearing a kitten would be just as effective.

This is the message that I think we as a cycling community should be trying our hardest to get across to non-cyclists.

Everytime Nigel Mansell or Bradley Wiggins or you or I say that cyclists should be wearing helmets, in the minds of non-cyclists we're increasing the proportion of RTCs where a helmet would be useful from 1% to 99%.

It moves the debate in completely the wrong direction.

We should be should be talking about advertising campaigns, cyclist training, driver training, infrastructure, but the debate always comes back to helmets.

Saying that we need to get our own house in order then we can start demanding better standards won't work because we don't have a house. We're not cyclists, we're a bunch of people who ride bikes some of whom include excellent riders, OK riders, psychopaths, idiots, arseholes, and everything in between. We are not a group and we have no leaders.

Anyway, that's what I meant when I said that helmets do SFA in an RTC.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:40 am
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Equal treatment. Not discriminating against victims.

Only those victims that choose to make it more dangerous for themselves, no? It's more a case of taking responsibility for your own actions.
I've been caught out by relatively silent cars, you've got no chance of hearing them with earphone. If you've managed to hone your spidey senses or use mirrors then that's excellent and I wish you luck.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:43 am
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well said BruceWee


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:44 am
 D0NK
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In cars some reasonable steps have been taken - car safety, NCAP etc.
so would you class helemts as unreasonable for cars?
For pedestrians, steps have also been taken - pavements and crossings.
what's been done for bikes? so far a bit of green paint. I've had 2 incidents in recent months one lorry hit me and one car very nearly did, former in a mandatory cycle lane, latter in a bus lane, that paint isn't helping much, a helmet [i]may*[/i] have mitigated some damage but driver education and cracking down on crap driving might be better steps.

I'd rule cyclist accidents on a 3 tier system
1 silly stuff not unclipping at redlights or get a bit of a wobble on and you hit the deck. Inattention, tired, whatever this is the same sort of stuff that you can do while walking around. A little slip/trip/fall could turn into a big problem in certain circumstances, again no one is arguing for helmets for pedestrians

2 Rider going faster than his abilities allow, happens to plenty here offroad so I should imagine it's reasonably common on road too. Here is where, if you really want, you can say "haha you should have been wearing a helmet you muppet" Riders discretion, you can't prevent everyone from doing every possible stupid thing, check the darwin awards for stuff you might have to legislate against.

3 this is the biggy, motor vehicles ploughing into a cyclist, in some instances a helmet will help in others there will be so much force or other injuries meaning the helmet is naff all use. Again what would really help here is not having a helmet law it's protecting vulnerable road users from crap drivers. Be that driver education, proper punishment for careless dangerous driving, segregated facilities or whatever.

*yes I was wearing one

<edit> brucewee said it a lot better than me


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:47 am
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captain danger it will only be a true monster if Tandem Jeremy graces us with his presence.

Good display by some big hitters though, congratulations 😉


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:53 am
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i personally believe helmets give users a false sense of secuirity and may ride in a manner less likely without one.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:55 am
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The proportion of RTCs where a helmet would have helped is tiny. 99% of the time wearing a kitten would be just as effective.

I'm going to need some evidence for that, I'm afraid.

in others there will be so much force or other injuries meaning the helmet is naff all use

Can't see how this is anything other than guessing or imagining.

If you get thrown over the bonnet of a car or knocked flying, you're going to hit the floor. If your arms or legs get broken, then it hurts but you'll survive. If your head hits the deck (or a wing) then you're in deep trouble.

I can't see why you have a problem with this. I've seen people being helped off the road after a car has nudged them off at low speed or almost stopped before impact - otherwise unhurt, but with a head injury.

I honestly cannot see how a helmet does not help when your head hits the tarmac. Really.

Doens't matter how they are designed or how you might be crushed under the wheels. It's padding for your skull. Padding helps impacts.

a helmet may* have mitigated some damage but driver education and cracking down on crap driving might be better steps

THEY ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE FFS!

brucewee said it a lot better than me

No, he didn't, there was not much substance in his post!

We should be should be talking about advertising campaigns, cyclist training, driver training, infrastructure, but the debate always comes back to helmets.

No, it doesn't. There are teams of people (or should be) in councils all over the place looking at cycling facilities. They're not very effective often, but they don't just spend all their money on helmet campaigning and nothing else, do they?

ASLs all over the place, signposted cycle routes, cycle crossings, SOME decent cycle paths, all these things have had some money spent on them (not nearly enough of course). I've never seen a single ad or billboard telling me to wear a helmet.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 10:56 am
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You haven't done anything to expalin why dulling one of the senses could be seen as a positive move when you have the option, except to show me that as you do it, and you are clearly AWESOME, that it should be seen as acceptable.
When i ride I listen to the traffic as I find feeling it is a bit difficult and not something I desire.
You keep riding with earphones and carrying your opinion, I'll keep riding without and mine. OK?
FYI I don't read the Daily Mail, and in fact quite a bizarre thing to say.

One thing, if I don't hear a car its much much much more to do with the sound of wind passing my ears (I think such noise is slightly reduce with headphones tbh), wind and traffic noise (not just engine but tyres on road a pretty load) occupy the same part of the sound spectrum and are both a broad whitish noise. There for they blur into one another. Music tends to be diffinitive sounds and higher in pitch.

Obviously that's doesn't change the fact that music must not be load, and when taking in a road section and going faster, I often can't really here much of my music.

But if you really believe traffic is such a soft delicate noise that it can be lost under tunage. Do this. Go somewhere away from traffic, put your mp3 player on, set it to a comfortable (not loud - just comfortable) volume. Now walk to a busy road...

Headphones or no you should be looking often, and look them in the eye too.

NB - needless to say I don't use fancy seinheisser earphones that block ambient noise when out riding, I use cheap crappy ones cos sooner or later sweat kills them. Nor am I saying you must wear headphones. Just that it really makes piss all difference.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:01 am
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and yet hundreds of car occupants die from head injuries every year, why aren't you arguing for helmet compulsion in car occupants?

The last report I saw showed a direct correlation between the two biggest fatal injuries for car occupants - head & chest injuries - and the number of accidents where the occupants were not wearing their seatbelts.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:02 am
 D0NK
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Can't see how this is anything other than guessing or imagining.
lorry wheel rolling over your head helmet won't help, crushed chest, perforated lungs, broken neck, lots of life threatening injuries where a helmet won't help. I only said some I didn't claim to have the stats.

I know helmet use and promoting better driving aren't exclusive but there downsides to compulsion hence my stance.

The last report I saw showed a direct correlation between the two biggest fatal injuries for car occupants - head & chest injuries - and the number of accidents where the occupants were not wearing their seatbelts.
so not wearing a seatbelt in a car is dangerous? who knew?
Seriously tho do you have the stats for head injuries KSIs among seatbelt wearers?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:03 am
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I've avoided this thread. I struggle with long sentences, but has the whole helmet thing been resolved then? Put to bed once and for all? Everyone in agreement?

Oh good 😀


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:05 am
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lorry wheel rolling over your head helmet won't help,

Obviously, but you don't know what kind of accident you're going to have before you set off, do you?!! FFS!

Seriously tho do you have the stats for head injuries KSIs among seatbelt wearers?

Of course not, not relevant either. Drivers have numerous safety features, motorcyclists do too, and yet you're saying that cyclists don't need them?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:07 am
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sorry bored myself


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:07 am
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Donk, you are arguing against helmets based on crush injuries yet the helmet is designed to help protect against impact injures. Most cycling accidents will be impact by their nature so having an helmet would help your chances of avoiding serious head injuries.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:07 am
 juan
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Definitely have the cycling bug.... (groan)

Well I am not sure spiders qualify as bug


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:08 am
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I have three helmets in my cupboard all damaged because I had crashes. In one instance, my bike landed on my head when I went over the bars on a steep drop. The bike cracked my helmet in three places.

My helmets have saved my life and I am very grateful to them 😀


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:09 am
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My helmets have saved my life and I am very grateful to them

No! Your lack of skills put you in danger.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:10 am
 DrJ
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Helmets save lives the same way seatbelts save lives ... err ... do they?

[url= http://www.john-adams.co.uk/2009/09/16/seat-belts-again-2/ ]http://www.john-adams.co.uk/2009/09/16/seat-belts-again-2/[/url]

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:10 am
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so not wearing a seatbelt in a car is dangerous? who knew?
Seriously tho do you have the stats for head injuries KSIs among seatbelt wearers?

What I was getting at is that motorists already have a compulsion which, if ignored, leads to the head injuries you referred to.

Been looking for the report I mentioned but the ABI have taken it down - they never leave stuff up too long. [url= http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/3494/1/3494.pdf ]THIS [/url] is pretty informative though & does give quite a few stats that are relevant.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:11 am
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don - yep, i am a complete idiot on a bike, couldnt even bunnyhop a kerb, hence why I wear a helmet which saved my life.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:14 am
 D0NK
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Molgrips/craig, I'm arguing against helmet compulsion for cyclists. I'm also highlighting other areas where compulsion might help but there's very very few people recommending it, why is that?

There's other reason against compulsion we can switch to one of those is you want.

Again, I do wear a helmet whilst riding so no need to worry unduly about my safety.

Nobby yeah I'd had a look at that, poor people more likely to die was a strange one. (my point was that even wearing a seatbelt some car users still suffer fatal head injuries, but there's no helmet compulsion argument for drivers)


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:16 am
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I'm going to need some evidence for that, I'm afraid.

Obviously it's difficult to get figures that will catagorically prove it one way or the other but [url= http://cyclehelmets.org/1078.html ]this is what I've found so far[/url]

Plus a few other sources that would back up a similar assumption but all found on cyclehelmets.org so I know that won't satisfy most folk.

What do you think a reasonable percentage would be?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:19 am
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Nobby yeah I'd had a look at that, poor people more likely to die was a strange one.

It's almost Daily Mail! I'd have guessed the correlation would be the fatality rate in older vehicles rather than anything else but the inference in there is otherwise.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:26 am
 DezB
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Click this [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/biggest-hitter-ever-to-join-helmet-debate/page/2#post-4038560 ]link[/url]


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:27 am
 DezB
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Important [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/wiggo-on-helmets/page/6?replies=209#post-4038568 ]link[/url]


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:28 am
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I have no idea on the percentage, I'm not the one throwing 99% about.

That link says 10% of all CHILD cycling injuries, which appears to include cuts and scrapes, are on the head.

Doesn't seem at all relevant to this debate about serious accidents involving adults in traffic.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:29 am
 D0NK
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Drivers of small cars, especially the superminis, are four times more at risk of death
in a collision with a larger car than drivers of the largest type of car. The increasing
divergence in mass is estimated to have increased the number of car occupants
killed by about 1%, or 30 extra deaths
😯 (matiz driver)


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:29 am
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Whahhh, whhhhhaaaaaah, whail....whahhhhhahhhh..

Mummy I can stand it any more..

Please make the nasty men stop whining..

Please...

Whahhhah..whahhhh...


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:30 am
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I have no idea on the percentage, I'm not the one throwing 99% about.

That link says 10% of all CHILD cycling injuries, which appears to include cuts and scrapes, are on the head.

Doesn't seem at all relevant to this debate about serious accidents involving adults in traffic.

OK, do you agree that helmets are designed to protect you in a fall from standing while stationary?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:35 am
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Mods, please can you re-open SpecialKnees 'out of my way, thoughtless roadies, I'm driving a motor car dontcherknow' thread as a distraction from this oh so tired old debate?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:38 am
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Helmets do offer some protection obviously.
But none at all against cars/motorbikes/lorries/busses ...

It would be a sad day if they ever made them compulsory.

I fear there is more chance of this government taxing cyclists though .. if it gets more popular, they will smell money to be made.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:40 am
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[i]taxing cyclists[/i]

Even less enforceable than legalising helmet use.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:44 am
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The proportion of RTCs where a helmet would have helped is tiny. 99% of the time wearing a kitten would be just as effective.

I'm going to need some evidence for that, I'm afraid.

Control group volunteer prepares for molgrips new helmet testing research
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:45 am
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Uneforcable, yes. But that wouldn't stop Them from trying. First a bike registration plate/tag system. Then the annual renewal fee/tax...


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:47 am
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Helmets do offer some protection obviously.
But none at all against cars/motorbikes/lorries/busses ...

It would be a sad day if they ever made them compulsory

Nothing could protect you against being run over by a bus or lorry or motorbike....therefore we should not have brakes or lights ..its a pointless argument as no one is arguing that helmets will make it impossible to injure you.
The same argument was used about making motorbike helmets compulsory and still is in the US of A


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:53 am
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But none at all against cars/motorbikes/lorries/busses ...

Do all RTC with cars/motorbikes/lorries/ busses(sic) involve the cyclist having their head run over?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:57 am
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Junkyard - Member

Nothing could protect you against being run over by a bus or lorry or motorbike....therefore we should not have brakes or lights

You gotta explain this one to me ...

How does not having brakes or lights compare??


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:57 am
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Just a thought, how do people figure out all this guff about what helmets do and don't do?

Presumably accident statistics are just that and only record what happens when someone has in fact hurt themselves. So how do they come upon all the info about when folk have clumped themselves severely and not hurt themselves? Is there a special number we need to ring or something? I've got about 20 or so head/solid object interface reports to file where my head has not in fact exploded or been damaged if that is the case.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:57 am
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..its a pointless argument as no one is arguing that helmets will make it impossible to injure you

And no one is saying that helmets are useless.

What we are trying to say is that helmets are such a tiny part of the safety debate that the amount of attention paid to them is ridiculous.

The debate should be about driver training, cyclist training, ad campaigns, infrastructure, etc and yet every single time it comes back to helmet legislation.

If we start to accept their limitations in RTCs maybe we can finally move the debate on.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 11:59 am
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mastiles_fanylion - Member

But none at all against cars/motorbikes/lorries/busses ...

Do all RTC with cars/motorbikes/lorries/ busses(sic) involve the cyclist having their head run over?

Very doubtful.
But how does a helmet protect you if you go under the wheels of a 10ton lorry?
Would the helmet protect your neck any better than being struck at 60mph by an oncoming car?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 12:00 pm
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BruceWee - Member

..its a pointless argument as no one is arguing that helmets will make it impossible to injure you

And no one is saying that helmets are useless.

What we are trying to say is that helmets are such a tiny part of the safety debate that the amount of attention paid to them is ridiculous.

BruceWee - Member

It's pretty irresponsible to go around saying that helmets are going to do you any good in a collision.

BruceWee - Member

Seriously, if there's one message that cyclists should be trying to get across to drivers it's that bicycle helmets offer no protection in an RTC.

Make you mind up on which message your trying to say then


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 12:20 pm
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Make you mind up on which message your trying to say then

Stop telling drivers that helmets are going to save cyclists if the hit them. Move the debate on to training, advertising, awareness, infrastructure.

Those are the points I've been trying to get across all along.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 12:25 pm
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Nothing could protect you against being run over by a bus or lorry or motorbike..

Move the debate on to training, advertising, awareness, infrastructure.

For drivers or cyclists? Best metaphor I've heard for this:

[b]You've put us in a cage with lions and your offering us protective clothing and lion taming lessons. [/b]

FFS do something about the Lions:

- strict enforcement of traffic laws. You're driving a two ton hunk of metal - you obey speed limits, you obey traffic signals, you drive at appropriate speeds for the conditions (which is often lower than the speed limit), you don't use your mobile phone
- you **** up, you lose your licence and have to retake your test.
- we drop the speed limit to 20mph on all roads without segregated cycle infrastructure.
- we put in place segregated cycle infrastructure (with priority at junctions)

Stop the hurt, don't give me a sticking plaster.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 12:40 pm
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Is STW about to implode all the threads eem to be converging including lion analogies

nick1962 - Member

kcr - Member

More people cycling is the best way to improve safety for cyclists.

Safety in numbers ,like being in herd of wilderbeest so only the old ,sick and young get eaten by the lions


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 12:44 pm
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Drivers of small cars, especially the superminis, are four times more at risk of death
in a collision with a larger car than drivers of the largest type of car.

How likely is it that the drivers of the largest type of car will be in collision with a larger car?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 12:44 pm
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Has there been any research done on helmet use in cases of grand pianos falling from the sky and landing on your head?

Or incidents involving Acme Rocket powered roller skates?

[img] [/img]

If not, its a glaring omission


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 12:47 pm
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Full Video...

One of the first things he says "I'm probably too tipsy to start talking about this now."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/bradley-wiggins-calls-for-cycling-helmets-to-be-made-compulsory-following-olympic-games-bus-crash-8000839.html?afid=af


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 12:53 pm
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Yay, Boris has joined in now. National darling says helmets should be compulsory, village idiot says no they shouldn't be. Theres only one way to settle it.......

FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 1:10 pm
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but what weapons? I say spoons.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 1:14 pm
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From Twitter a little while ago,

[b]@bradwiggins[/b]

Just to confirm I haven't called for helmets to be made the law as reports suggest

[b]@bradwiggins[/b]

I suggested it may be the way to go to give cyclists more protection legally I involved In an accident


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 2:04 pm
Posts: 17
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- strict enforcement of traffic laws. You're driving a two ton hunk of metal - you obey speed limits, you obey traffic signals, you drive at appropriate speeds for the conditions (which is often lower than the speed limit), you don't use your mobile phone
- you **** up, you lose your licence and have to retake your test.

I agree. Though at the same time you have to apply the same to the cyclists. Day in day out I see stupid dangerous actions by fellow cyclists (and occasionally myself!) which not only put themselves in danger but others too, and to then bring all the enforcement against the driver is a bit of hipocrisy. Everything should be applied equally, only then do you stand a chance of having equal respect of each other on the road.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 2:12 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 2:29 pm
 D0NK
Posts: 592
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@bradwiggins

Just to confirm I haven't called for helmets to be made the law as reports suggest

looked in the video like he had but I'm guessing he had other things on his mind, was a little tipsy, got ambushed with the question and is a freaking awesome athlete so we'll let him off eh?
🙂


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 2:31 pm
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