If we need helmets for cycling, what about other activities?

Monday 8th March 2010, 2:59PM GMT.

From Keith Davis.
MOST people, including consultants working in A & E, have a narrow viewpoint and limited experience of the full pros and cons of introducing legislation to force the wearing of cycle helmets.

Those wishing to be better informed could do worse than search for ‘CTC cycle helmet’ on the internet. The CTC is the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation, offering advice and services to cyclists since 1878. It has HM Queen Elizabeth II as a patron.

If legislation is introduced in the noble cause of reducing head injuries, why limit it to cycling? Why not include other outdoor adventure sports or contact sports?

Or travelling in an open-topped car? Or climbing a ladder? Or anything else that poses an increased risk of head injury?

Cycling is not inherently dangerous and the case for helmet legislation is far from straightforward. If the aim is to make cycling safer, there are other more practical measures that can be taken.

For example, there could be cycle training for inexperienced cyclists, and greater enforcement of existing legislation for all road users.

1
Chris

March 9, 2010 at 1:12 pm

I am in total agreement with not making it compulsory, but the arguments used against it have clearly not been thought out before posting.

Outdoor Adventure sports, contact sports, what?
You’d find most adventure sports people already do wear helmets. Also most organised sports have legal issues in having to make them wear helmets.

“Cycling is not inherently dangerous” ? Compared to what else you do on the road other than ride a motorcycle, drive or walk?

You do realise the helmet is there to protect you from using your head as the first and only direct contact to the surface of the object/floor or other person who accidentally hits you.

You do realised that when you are cycling on the road for example there are other and usually more stupid road users around you? You may trust yourself to handle yourself but do you trust other drivers?

Open-topped car? They have a roll bar, As opposed to a hard-top car where you don’t hit your head? Too many reasons here to list why that is so wrong.

Climbing a ladder?
Again, you’re not using the ladder with other people and vehicles.

It’s the same argument as a seat belts, if people don’t want to use them let them.

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