http://www.itv.com/news/story/2012-08-02/wiggins-wants-cycling-safety-law/ Wiggins: I don't want helmet law. British Gold Medalist Bradley Wiggins has denied reports he called for cycle helmets to be made compulsory, but instead about giving cyclists to be given more protection on the road. Pretty much what I've been saying.
Nobody wants helmet law, pretty much everyone thinks it will deter people from taking up cycling. That's a bit different to thinking it's a good idea to wear one. I don't wear one personally, but I'm well mad init...
There are some misguided types that keep pushing for it. It's the strength of the information showing the dangers of helmets that's stopping it. Some things at first seem counter intuitive. Road deaths had been falling prior to seat belt law. Once it came in accidents increased as did the number of cyclists killed and injured. Some of this is attributed to drivers being more reckless as they felt safer. Likewise, helmetted cyclists are more likely to be involved in accidents as they look and feel less vulnerable for putting a polystyrene cup on their head.
So its not that the helmets don't protect you, it's that people don't put them on properly/have them fitted properly? A good quality, well fitted helmet won't offer you any protection at all, and you're better off without one? But if they did actually protect you, cyclists would ride even worse than they do now, have more accidents and that would be the fault of the helmets? Is that what you're saying?
Really? The other little chappy clearly has doubts. I don't mind debate and alternative opinions, butif it just drops to a boring pissing contest or people showing their limited comprehension skills it'll get even more dull.
I have enjoyed this debate. Learn something new everyday! And whats even more ****ed up is i seem to be agreeing with DMD . On a whole it have been very good reading and informative
The fact is, even if a cyclist wears a helmet, iron clad suit, reinforced boots or whatever some clown will claim they didn't 'see him/her' whilst they were fiddling with their mobile or radio or sat nav or preening themselves in the mirror. I have seen car drivers with dogs on their laps as they drive along, lorry drivers eating a meal which is on their steering wheel and I have forgotten how many women I have seen applying make up as they drive along. And lets not forget it wasn't that long ago that some bimbo knocked a cyclist off the road, on purpose, and actually tweeted about it, then when found out suddenly became all apologetic, yer right. I'll restate my previous post, the roads cannot cope with the amount of traffic in general, and its getting worse, no matter how many lanes there are. As a nation we we are slaves to the infernal combustion engine and that is not going to change, cyclists will be in even more danger no matter whatever they wear, the car rules.
in general when someone gets behind the wheel of a car they suddenly become a caged beast where time seems to accelerate and the only important thing in the universe is them getting to their destination , whatever that may be . For the most part car drivers are placid , considerate and even helpful , but there is a moment where the above monster creeps into every drivers head and they just go mental . I think the biggest problem is just simple impatience , its like old biddies on their mobility scooters , they were once happy plodding at 3 mile an hour on foot , but now they can hit 10mph they gun it everywhere they go decimating all in their path ! Like a car driver , empowered with speed its always never enough , like the speed limit , ppl drive at the limit plus its acceptable threshold and then slip in a cpl more mph for good measure
Slipping into lycra makes cyclists think they're invulnerable super heroes who don't have to obey any traffic laws and gives them 100% right of way in their fight against the evil tyranny of the corrupted car driver. Generalising is fun!
