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Category: Propaganda

  • Misguided doctors or marketing agents?

    Abstract In the 1980′s, Bell, a helmet manufacturer, was keen to expand the market for bicycle helmets, its most profitable product. It approached the Snell foundation and offered funding for research on bicycle helmets. The Snell foundation chose avid helmet lobbyists to conduct this “research”. The helmet lobbyists initial “research” claimed that helmets reduce 85% of…

  • My helmet saved my life!

    Abstract After the helmet law, many cyclists insisted that their helmets had saved them. Yet cycling injuries tripled. Why? Because helmets increase the risk of accidents.  What the data tells us Here are some stats on cycling death & serious injury for children in NSW, before and after the helmet law. Two years after the…

  • Trying to deny that helmets can aggravate brain injury

    Abstract Several studies have reported that bicycle helmets can increase rotational acceleration. Rotational acceleration is the primary cause of brain injury. The Australian government commissioned a study to defend its controversial helmet law. The study set up unrealistic conditions fostering low rotational acceleration. The study claims that helmets do not increase brain injury. This is deceitful.…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Deceptive ad portraying cycling as dangerous

    The Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW has commissioned an advertising campaign to promote bicycle helmets.  As many of those campaigns are, it is deceptive, while portraying cycling as more dangerous than it really is.  Here is a short extract from the ad: “Don’t think that little ride to the shops warrants wearing [a helmet]?…

  • Misleading “study” from a government agency

    In 2000, the Australia Safety Transport Bureau (ATSB), a government agency, released a “meta-analysis”, that claims to provide overwhelming evidence that bicycle helmets reduce the risk of brain injury.  This claim was rebutted in 2003, highlighting a lack of understanding of scientific mechanism of brain injury, failing to take into account rotational acceleration: “This examination concentrates…

  • The 3rd International Conference on Injury Prevention and Control

    The 3rd International Conference on Injury Prevention and Control [NOTE: The official Web site for this conference, which was formerly located at www.nisu.flinders.edu.au, is no longer available. Links from this page have been removed accordingly. ] The 3rd International Conference on Injury Prevention and Control was held in Melbourne, Australia from February 18-22 1996. For bicycle…

  • Henderson Paper Reviewed

    The 1995 Henderson report can be found here.  It is another report exaggerating the benefits of helmets, funded by the NSW government. Another critique of this report can be found here. Individuals and organizations zealously pushing mandatory helmet use for cyclists are continuing to churn out reams of propaganda. One of the more voluminous efforts…

  • A Review of the South Australian Office of Road Safety Report 8/94

    1. Introduction This is a review of the South Australian Office of Road Safety report 8/94 subtitled “Evaluation of the Compulsory Helmet Wearing Legislation for Bicyclists in South Australia”. This report (herein referred to as SAORS 8/94) shows that authorities in South Australia have been committed to the policy of helmet wearing for cyclists since…