Last Month's article on whether
helmet use should be made compulsory for cyclists
got quite a few responses, a couple of which we
have printed here. Have your say by emailing helmets@citycycling.co.uk
Having lived a long time
in Australia – I remember as a kid when helmets
became compulsory – I had always been a little
bemused by the opposition to compulsory helmet-wearing
in the UK by the CTC and others.
However
this article was the first time I have seen a clear
and compelling explanation of the anti-compulsion
position, and it has changed my mind.
My
only disagreement is that I would summarise the conclusions
in a slightly different way. I can see the argument
that hospital-based studies which suggest that helmets
reduce injury are not necessarily valid for the general
population. But surely helmets have value for individuals
and suggest that while the overall number of injuries
would not be reduced, the risk of injury to the individual
is reduced.
So
aren’t the lessons that, we should not all be
compelled to wear helmets because that would reduce
cycling numbers and increase the overall incidence
of injury; but we should encourage the individual
choice to wear them because it will reduce our personal
risk of injury.
chris
o’hearn
tooting, london
