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The emergence of policy-driven studies
Abstract In the mid 1990’s, evidence emerged that the bicycle helmet law had failed to reduce the risk of cycling injuries. Governments responded by commissioning “studies” exaggerating the benefits of helmets while ignoring their tendency to increase accidents. Such policy-driven studies are quoted in official government communications to justify its controversial policy. These deceitful…
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Research on helmet law in the UK
In the UK, the helmet law has been debated for a long time, with the usual set of emotional arguments from helmet believers. So far, rationality has prevailed, thanks to the efforts of the Cyclists Touring Club and independent researchers. Here is some of the research that has help sanity prevail. The Hillman report, one…
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Helmet believers doubtful after increase in injuries
A helmet advocate researched Canadian provinces with a bicycle helmet law. What he found shocked him. Provinces with a helmet law experienced relatively more injuries. “A study that compared six-year periods on either side of the helmet laws in the four provinces that have them calculated a reduction in fatalities of 37 per cent and a reduction in…
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Do helmets really protect racing cyclists?
Most sport cyclists wear a helmet as it is “obvious” it protects. Does it? Since mandatory helmets, deaths of professional cyclists while racing have doubled: “The helmet rule for professional cyclists was brought by the UCI in 2003 following the death of Andrei Kivlev during the Paris-Nice race. Since then deaths of professional cyclists while racing have…
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Misguided study affected by confirmation bias
Abstract Some studies attempt to “prove” that helmets reduce injuries rather than genuinely attempt to understand their actual protective effects. Bold claims are made. Yet the data does not support them. While such studies are well meaning, their misleading claims can push people towards counterproductive solutions. One example is this study, that states it is designed to “demonstrate the…
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First Ad to repeal the helmet law
An Australian cyclist has made the first ad to repeal the bicycle helmet law, after being inspired by the level of utility cycling among all ages in a trip in Italy. The ad was even available in the mainstream media, not often that australian media shows an ad for free! The ad invites people to…