[TJ, I agree with much of what you have to say about helmets, and having made an informed decision about the various risks and benefits as well as my lack of ability usually elect to put a lump of polystyrene on my bonce before I head out, but I don’t judge anyone who choses not to.
A point you’ve not made here (as far as I can see) but have in the past is that safety equipment can make you feel safer encouraging to you to take higher risks. I know lots of people who would argue that with you – but this is a well known phenomenon in a number of areas. At its simplest level I can usually prove the principle by asking if you would cycle down the steps at the end of my street wearing a helmet (about a dozen concrete steps – fairly wide and reasonably steep) most people here would do them with minimal thought. Now take your helmet off and do the same… most people at least hesitate before saying they would do it. Proving to me the helmet made them feel safer (if you fall off you might get a head injury – but limb damage is probably more likely).
So, here’s my gripe:
Kids. Hmmmmmmmmmm Several points
Are they capable of making a rational assessment ( gillick competence)
Young kids skulls are softer, some kids skills are crap, some take lots of risks.
I think its recognised morally and legally that adults can and must make decisions for kids in some circumstances.
Just make sure that their helmets fit and are done up properly.
As an aside – how many of you helmet evangelists wear them properly – less than half even of serious mtbers IME Most have the straps loose
Bearing in mind the above principle – by putting helmets on kids are we encouraging children to ride more dangerously (or the average parent to pay less concern to their riding – because they have a helmet on)? We started off with the wear it all the time stance for our kids because that is what society seemed to expect, however this year we’ve taken the view, in common with many of the immediate neighbours, that when in a very localised (almost traffic free) area where our kids ride by themselves the risks are minimal, the kids put their helmets on themselves which means they are probably not tight enough, and then take them off / drop / damage too – which all leads to a false sense of security. In reality half the time they are travelling at less than running speed.
Whilst I am convinced I am making the right decision I feel “peer pressure” from “society” that we are exposing our kids to unreasonable risk. Bearing in mind that almost everyone on here over the age of thirty wouldn’t have owned a cycle helmet before they were 12 the risks are not as high as may be implied. Yes there is a tiny risk of a serious head injury, but there’s also a risk they’ll grow up having no idea what fun is or so risk averse that they post threads on STW in 15 years time declaring everyone else stupid for not religiously doing as “society” expects…
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The “building site” question is not as irrelevant as it first sounds. Its not uncommon for “hard hat zones” to be declared in areas where the risk of falling objects is minimal (or almost impossible). Whilst one school of thought says – just make them wear them all the time then they don’t need to think about it – there is an alternative viewpoints which says encourage people to think about what they are doing and perhaps you’ll reduce the risk of falling objects rather than depending on PPE.
