Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
A cyclist was killed yesterday on the road near the trail where I ride. He did everything right. He had lights, reflective clothing, and a helmet. He was rear ended by a car that was probably going at least 30mph (the speed limit is 35).
In this case a helmet did not make one bit of a difference.
I think helmets are useful in many cases, but I think the benefits of them are often overstated.
A cyclist was killed yesterday on the road near the trail where I ride. He did everything right. He had lights, reflective clothing, and a helmet. He was rear ended by a car that was probably going at least 30mph (the speed limit is 35).
In this case a helmet did not make one bit of a difference.
Nor would it be expected. I don't think any experienced cyclist would really expect any difference in outcome.
Quote:
I think helmets are useful in many cases, but I think the benefits of them are often overstated.
This is so true. But who is doing the overstating?
One group alleging that the benefits of helmets being overstated are the anti-helmet zealots that only cite bike versus motor-vehicle altercations as the only circumstance that helmets are intended to protect us from. I have three cracked helmets, the benefits of which were not overstated and worked as specified under the circumstances in which I crashed. None of these altercations involved motor vehicles. The crashes resulted from equipment failure or various road surface conditions - all of which are unpredictable, so the helmet stays on for those circumstances. However, for potential altercations with motor vehicles, I don't rely on my helmet, but rather rely on biking skills gained from a lot of experience as a cyclist and a motor vehicle operator and knowledge of the rules of the road.
Another group overstating the benefits that just drives me nuts are parents that just slap a helmet on their kids heads and send them out on the road, thinking that is all they need. That's relying on that false sense of security.
A cyclist was killed yesterday on the road near the trail where I ride. He did everything right. He had lights, reflective clothing, and a helmet. He was rear ended by a car that was probably going at least 30mph (the speed limit is 35).
In this case a helmet did not make one bit of a difference.
I think helmets are useful in many cases, but I think the benefits of them are often overstated.
And seat belts and air bags aren't going to protect the driver of a small car that has a 60mph head on collision with a Mack Truck.
What's your point?
Not all accidents are created equal.
Just because helmets won't protect you under all circumstances, doesn't mean you shouldn't be protecting yourself for the many potential accident types when helmets can make a difference.
A cyclist getting hit by a car moving at 30mph is going have a lot more than just head injuries.
And seat belts and air bags aren't going to protect the driver of a small car that has a 60mph head on collision with a Mack Truck.
What's your point?
Not all accidents are created equal.
Just because helmets won't protect you under all circumstances, doesn't mean you shouldn't be protecting yourself for the many potential accident types when helmets can make a difference.
A cyclist getting hit by a car moving at 30mph is going have a lot more than just head injuries.
I occasionally forget to wear one, but most of the time, I do wear one. I insist that my kids wear one, and I started off trying to practice what I preach, and then it just kind of rubbed off on me. What is really disturbing to me, though, is how many children in our n'hood do not wear one. I don't understand what their parents are thinking, frankly. I mean, the fact that we didn't have them when we, ourselves, were kids, doesn't change the fact that wearing a helmet could save a kid's life if he or she were to be hit by a car.
Finally a reasoned article (in the NYT) that isn't written by a driver who thinks that if they make us wear magic hats, they can wash their hands of all this sharing the road and building bike infrastructure nonsense:
Totally agree with this. Since the last time I posted in this thread, I've used the bike share programs in DC, Minneapolis and Madison, and ridden helmetless. It made riding feel like a normal activity...it doesn't need to seem so dangerous.
when I wore a helmet people on the street would always ask: "Why are you wearing a helmet? or bicycles dont go fast enough to need a helmet"
Some real intelligent people there. Do they question about carrying books or laptops too?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
