Should wearing a cycle helmet be made compulsory? Poll

[tillson]

Please vote Yes or No to the question: Should it be compulsory to wear a cycle helmet?

 

[funkylyn]

Done !

Lynda

 

[Morgann]

No! what a sad idea! It'll be airbags next you mark my words!

Also, exclamation marks will be rationed!

 

[iaing]

Should never be compulsory even though I always do. What's weird is the number of adults I see with children, the children wearing helmets the adults not. Bet many will remove them the moment the adults are out of site.

Another thing - is there any legislation about to try to prevent retailers selling things that look like bike helmets but are just bits of rubbish? I know there is a feeble EU standard but is it legal to sell "helmets" that do not comply?

Thanks

Iain

 

[Morgann]

I have no idea.

Check with the 'Ask Flecc' facility. Probably your best option.

 

[flecc]

I don't think so, since we are advised to look for the BS Kite approval mark.

Why is it that no-one ever remarks that the abbreviation of British Standard, i.e. BS, is also the abbreviation for male bovine excrement?

Perhaps because it's so apposite?

 

[tonyishuk]

The reactions will be the same as when the law making wearing safety belts compulsory. "Infringement on my rights (Human or otherwise)""

Some people will never wear seat belts, but may wished they had when removing their head from the windscreen.

No doubt the same for cyclists when recovering from a head meeting the road surface at much lower speeds.

Better education for children and them seeing their peers actually wearing a crash hat would help

Rgds

 

[flecc]

The reactions will be the same as when the law making wearing safety belts compulsory. "Infringement on my rights (Human or otherwise)""

That's too simplistic, there are very many other grounds for objection. Thee's the little matter of personal judgments, two examples below:

1) Do I need the protection? In my case in 66 years of cycling and 60 years of driving and motorcycling, I've never needed a seat belt or a helmet of any kind. Therefore my judgment not to use helmets has been a sound one.

2) Is the equipment fit for purpose? Cycle helmets are only designed and tested to cope with one narrowly defined type of impact at up to 12 mph. Clearly that means they do not adequately protect at either the common higher speeds or in the great majority of accident types which don't conveniently match the designed-for one. One might reasonably conclude that they are largely a waste of money and that one's concentration should be on avoiding accidents in the first place.

 

[jerrysimon]

I voted No.

I could choose not to ride a bicycle and therefore be certain I would never be knocked off one.

The helmet debate will go round and round. Why don't we just have it as a sticky ?

Regards

Jerry