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Helmet fanatics misleading tricks exposed at senate inquiry
The Australian federal government senate inquiry on personal choice terms of reference include: “bicycle helmet laws, including any impact on the health, enjoyment and finances of cyclists and non-cyclists;” Most submissions to the inquiry requested a review of the bicycle helmet law. The senate inquiry held hearings on the bicycle helmet law on the 16th of November…
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Confusing helmets with polystyrene hats
Why are these two devices given the same name? This device protects in a serious accident This device crumbles in a serious accident Imagine a drug manufacturer introduces a new medicine it calls new aspirin. Yet the new aspirin is only 1% as effective as current aspirin. There would be an outcry. It is misleading to give the same name…
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Submission to senate inquiry on road safety in Australia
1 March 2015 In this inquiry, our concern is the safety of cyclists as road users, having regard to the costs of injury and death to them. We focus here on the design standard for bicycle helmets, made mandatory by federal trade practices legislation and administered by the ACCC, and its adequacy for supporting the…
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Another attempt to introduce a helmet law defeated
A proposal to introduce a helmet law is California was withdrawn following opposition from cycling groups. A petition from the California Bicycle Coalition mentioned: “there are proven ways to make our streets safer while encouraging bicycling — reducing speed limits on key streets, building protected bike lanes and bike paths, and educating motorists and bicyclists on…
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German study concludes that a bicycle helmet law is a waste of resource
Bicycle helmet laws are motivated by a desire to improve safety. Yet when they have been implemented, the main result has been to reduce cycling. This imposes healths costs by reducing the health benefits of cycling. Are the benefits worth the costs? An Australian study concluded a helmet law may provide a small benefit under extreme assumptions. A new study attempts to…
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Can helmets cause permanent disability?
In 1993, a team of researchers conducted lab experiments on bicycle helmets. The purpose was to measure the chin strap forces in accidents. The researchers were shocked by what they found. They found that helmets can seriously damage cyclists neck: “The non-shell helmet did in all trials grab the asphalt surface, which rotated the head together with the helmet. The…
