Be prepared for an accident

[ebikeerwidnes]

I have read the papers I think you are referring to and that is very much my recollection.

You do make, or at least imply, the confounding factor in that it is conceivable that helmets per se might individually be a "good thing" but compulsion increases the injury rate due who , and how many cycles and how they are treated by motorists if numbers are lower. Working out how much of this is the "confounding factors" alluded to vs helmets being harmful on occasion would be hard to quantify.

But all that said, if it's so hard to come up with a proper survey which overwhelmingly proves a benefit there genuinely can't be much in it.

To a degree I now make a point of not wearing one as it has been stated by some authorities that compulsion would be pursued after helmets become more widespread, so my refusal is a bit of a political act.

Even though my rational side believes the numbers that there's little benefit, psychologically I felt safer when I used to wear one (long before most people did).

I would agree with being totally against compulsion

If anything I believe that it would reduce the number of people riding bikes
and the more people do then the safer I believe we are as driver become more used to looking for us

But i have not heard any serious suggestion that compulsion is to be pursued in this country

and I have had several minor incidents where a helmet has saved me from a sore head!

OK - and one where it saved me from a scratch but nearly threw me off when a twig got stuck into the vents in the top when I was going downhill!

 

[icowden]

Which clinical evidence is that? I read lots of anecdotal. But the clinical evidence of which you speak, please share.

I have. Multiple times.

 

[blackrat]

All I'll say on this is I had a very low speed off which I basically fell off to one side due to issue with road and an oncoming tractor. Anyway, I hurt my hip which was blinking painful but I also smacked my head. Quite a dent in helmet so without one I suspect I'd have done myself some quite serious damage.

Personally I think wearing a helmet is a good idea but if you don't, carry on.

"Personally I think wearing a helmet is a good idea but if you don't, carry on"

Quite true. And it is irresponsible to say to anyone: Apparently helmets are absolutely lethal regardless of any evidence to the contrary.

 

[oldandslow]

Someone will be along shortly to tell you that if you hadn't been wearing a helmet you wouldn't have hit your head, and people with medical training know nothing about head injuries anyway.

Apparently helmets are absolutely lethal regardless of any evidence to the contrary.

In all the helmet debates I've seen over a period of nearly 40 years, nobody has ever argued that. However, it's possible that some people have questioned the large claimed benefits of helmets, and had their rather mild responses misquoted as making such claims.

The best summary is probably the kind of thing that Chris Boardman would say, that these are rather marginal matters, and concentrating on almost any other aspect of safety would be more productive.

 

[blackrat]

All I'll say on this is I had a very low speed off which I basically fell off to one side due to issue with road and an oncoming tractor. Anyway, I hurt my hip which was blinking painful but I also smacked my head. Quite a dent in helmet so without one I suspect I'd have done myself some quite serious damage.

Personally I think wearing a helmet is a good idea but if you don't, carry on.

"Personally I think wearing a helmet is a good idea but if you don't, carry on"

Quite true. And it is irresponsible to say to anyone anything as unfortunate as this: Apparently helmets are absolutely lethal regardless of any evidence to the contrary.

 

[matticus]

But i have not heard any serious suggestion that compulsion is to be pursued in this country

I think members of our elected government proposing it in parliament rates quite high on the serious-ometer.

 

[Alex321]

"Personally I think wearing a helmet is a good idea but if you don't, carry on"

Quite true. And it is irresponsible to say to anyone: Apparently helmets are absolutely lethal regardless of any evidence to the contrary.

I think you rather missed the point of that post. He was being sarcastic, referring (with a bit of exaggeration) to the way some on here post about helmets.

 

[icowden]

Quite true. And it is irresponsible to say to anyone anything as unfortunate as this: Apparently helmets are absolutely lethal regardless of any evidence to the contrary.

And yet that's effectively the counter-argument that gets trotted out every time. Just read back through the various helmet threads and you will learn that helmets cause accidents, they offer no protection, and doctors don't know what they are talking about. Head injury statistics are irrelevant. Most helmets will give you neck injuries, worsen your concussion etc etc etc.

My take is that most doctors seem to think they help. I've provided many references to medical studies which have shown that outcomes when wearing helmets are generally better than when not. Having worked as PA to a very senior Neurosurgeon for almost a year, my tendency is to think that they know what they are talking about.