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So last night im sat waiting for the wife to get out of her yoga class, when a landrover pulls out of a side road straight in front of a road cyclist, he hadnt seen his flickery light. The cyclist hit the front wing and then the road hard, on his head.
I was first on the scene, luckily the guy wasnt too badly hurt, cuts on his legs, but he was quite concussed and not really with it. Ambulance was called, and eventually he came around, began talking normal etc.
Now I know its been done to death on here, but I still cannot get my head around why some people dont wear helmets when riding. I dont know if its deemed uncool or its the "it wont happen to me" thought process, but surely even when riding on the road its essential...tarmac and cars hurt! This guy was lucky this time, it could have been a whole lot worse.
lovely, you don't get it. Other people have a different POV: it's life. Get over it. Really, drop it, it's dull, boring. People are people, leave it at that, OK?
'tiredly reaches for the popcorn'
Wrong side of bed this morning???
Head injuries are far more common for motorists yet I still see people driving cars without helmets. When will the madness end!
What I don't get is why, having been knocked off his bike by an inattentive driver, the [b]rider[/b] is the focus of your criticism 🙄
Not at all, it's just tedious. Wear a helmet if you want, but other folk have a different take on it, so to do this argument [i]again[/i] is a waste of time.
That's all.
Gies some popcorn steve.
Ta
Its about personal choice. Cycling is safe - there are very few head serious injuries. There is no massive epidemic of head injuries
The evidence that helmets actually reduce serious head injuries is poor at best.
You are less likely to have an accident if you don't wear one - why is unclear but that is the evidence.
It is much more pleasant not to wear a helmet
Noooooo not agaiiiiiiin' it's too early!
I need coffee before it kicks off again........
'dips hand into steve's popcorn'
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I do hope that's not a Euphemism for something else. 😯
People run without a helmet on, drive a car without a helmet on, walk down the stairs without a helmet on, etc, all these things have a risk of injury...
It's just nature's way of improving the gene pool.
No, not criticising his riding or him personally. Driver of the car was at fault... but surely we have to look after ourselves?
For the sake of strapping on a lid, a lot of major head injuries could be avoided.
s'alright Khani - I promise not to make any more sensible answers. 🙂
TJs approved city riding suit
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Sorry all, didnt want to start an argument. Just wanted to get an insight into why people decide to do it. 😕
Send some popcorn this way will ya. Breakfast wasn't very filling.
Helmets help in some accidents but as a person who has just discovered the joys of not wearing one quite recently its got to be down to personal choice.
Twonk in the vehicle that caused the accident should get a stiff penalty then he might take more care in future.
Right where's my popcorn oh and the cup if coffee.
opp north where's your evidence that helmets prevent a lot of major head injuries?
oop north - MemberSorry all, didnt want to start an argument. Just wanted to get an insight into why people decide to do it.
Well I will answer that - from my point of view.
I don't like wearing helmets, they are uncomfortable, sweaty and inconvenient.
helmets only offer partial protection at best from serious head injuries
If you look at the accident rates dispassionatly you see for some forms of cycling the risks are very low indeed. Millions to one of getting a serious head injury that would be mitigated significantly by a helmet. Those odds I am prepared to accept.
for some forms of riding the risks are considerably higher. Then I wear one.
Thank you tj 😛
I'm fragile in the morning before my coffee.......
Hopster - Dont have any! Surely if you fall on your head, wearing a helmet would be a better option??? Or am I wrong?
TJ- Fair enough!
I thought that I read some time ago that overall wearing a helmet DIDN'T improve injury rates (maybe severity - I can't remember), owing to 'risk compensation'.
First came across this as an argument when I rode a motorbike regarding wearing race leathers etc. The car analogy goes - how many collisions would there be if it was mandatory for all car steering wheels to be fitted with knives pointing at the drivers face? So driver / rider feels safe so takes more risks through inappropriate use of speed or inattentiveness.
Well I always wear a helmet and so do my kids, I have seen it personally save my skull a couple of times and seen it help my sons head from being cracked. It makes a lot of sense to me for sure.
That said I didnt start wearing a helmet until late twenties.
About 15 yrs ago I also was first at the scene where a car pulled out and a cyclist ploughed into the side of it. But it was dark, rider had no lights and was full of drink. The blood running out of his head and down the street was not the best end to a friday night that he, or I, had had and I am sure that a helmet would have at least stopped the deep cuts and reduced the impact damage to his head. He was knocked right out, the car wind screen shattered and an impressive V dented in the roof.
He lived and recovered after a while in hospital, that does not prove that a helmet is not worth wearing.
From what I have personally seen and witnessed if you have one wear it, if you dont wear one it is up to you but it does leave your noggin more exposed when something does happen.
oop north.... You are showing genuine concern for this guys safety and wishing for him and others to wear a helmet so as to try and avoid/minimise any injuries. Nothing wrong with that thought and its called compassion, good on you.
I will now pull up a chair and wait to get flamed 😯
Oop north. I think it depends on the accident. I can't see a helmet being much good in a head on with a lorry at 30 mph.
Twonk in the vehicle that caused the accident should get a stiff penalty then he might take more care in future.
At risk of fanning the flames... The police called me last night and said they were not going to charge the driver. Usually they would, but as the light the guy was using was not very good and he was not wearing any high vis clothing, then he had to accept some responsibility!
And before you lot start.... not my view, from where I was sat! 😉
"muffled chuntering"
The next person who starts a 'wearing a helmet' thread should get a lifetime ban.
oop north that is pants. Not sure what to add really.
Grumpy this morning KT. is the Avonmouth air not to your liking today?
I find these very good for making holes in people who get in my way. Get your trajectory right you can write off the car that attempts to kill you
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TJ Lol
hopster - MemberGrumpy this morning KT. is the Avonmouth air not to your liking today?
Nah, not particularly it's just this topic was covered yesterday, last week etc.
It will just end in sending TJ into orbit.
Hopster - I agree!
Even if his lights were deemed rubbish, the driver was not taking due care and attention, he should face some penalty! Would it have been the same with a pedestrian in dark clothing?
There's a guy on the telly right now, riding a bike inside, round a piece of wood, 😯 wearing a helmet and he's inside!! FFS someone tell him to take it off, he looks a right knob!
I think I might try one of these. Being a mythological beastie should provide plenty of protection
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KingTut - even I began to realise the futility of this debate - having said as much as I could be arsed on it the other day and a week or two ago we had the fully fledged science paper splurge.
anyone who wants to restart the debate should be made to read threu all the previous threads first.
has the popcorn tub got a hole in the bottom steve? is that why you are so eagerly offering it around? 😯
KT not bringing her much lately I've missed loads of threads so apologies for going over old ground.
Oop North the cyclist can still attempt to get some compensation via the small claims court. Did he take your details?
What about the fact that the cyclist was only using a little 'flickering' light? Aren't those things not supposed to be 'road legal'?
TJ I still haven't got my popcorn so I'm off to find some biscuits instead. So missed the sympathetic attitude of us tree loving cyclist.
Hopster - Yeah, I made sure he had my name and number, I even wrote it on his arm cos I had no paper 🙂 The bike was knackered.
Right I'm off to speak to my ambulance chasers regarding my accident.
TandemJeremy - Member
If you look at the accident rates dispassionatly you see for some forms of cycling the risks are very low indeed. Millions to one of getting a serious head injury that would be mitigated significantly by a helmet. Those odds I am prepared to accept.
Probably true, but I wear mine mainly because of all the small knocks it protects me from where otherwise I would have had a nasty bruise/cut to my noggin.
For me, the protection from serious injury is a bonus, the main function is protecting against my own stupid little mistakes.
[url= http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/bicyclehelmetsreviewofeffect4726?page=11 ]Good summary of the helmet debate from the DfT[/url]
"In terms of tone, the bicycle helmet debate can best be described as sour and tetchy. Neither side seems willing to concede that there can be alternative points of view. Both sides can descend into language that reflects little credit for either, for instance, expressions such as irresponsible zealots who oppose legislation find their counterpart in helmet advocates dismissed as do gooders and mandarins of health promotion. This can be disappointing for those seeking enlightenment from the debate."
I've witnessed people arguing about this on the internet for well over a decade now. In all that time I have never seen any new arguments, and I've never seen anybody on either side of the discussion change their mind, so I think enlightenment may be some way off.
Try Googling "bicycle helmet debate"
258,000 results...
I just can't believe the discussion is about helmets when this driver has crossed at right of way, knocked a cyclist off, and then had no punishment at all!?
Retro - a good point. I tend to agree which is why I wear one at trail centre when the risks of ANY head knock are high.
CTC has a good summary of the evidence as well.
http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=4688