Helmets

kerby_crawler

brat wrote: »

My default is to wear my helmet, but if I'm popping into town to shop, I'll not bother. Awareness and visibility are much greater protectors.

I have seen a few videos showing all manner of quite atrocious driver behaviour, but, however wrong it may be, it is very often completely predictable. Defensive road use majors on good anticipation, rather than insisting upon one's 'rights'.

Rightly or wrongly, motorists are quite likely to perceive cyclists differently from the way they perceive other motorists - cyclists in turn need to make allowances for the predictable misperceptions of motorists - that is arguably at least as good a way to avoid a head injury as wearing a helmet. It also very often depends upon having a very good view of what is developing behind.

Marco_Panettone

Kennyboy66 wrote: »

Really ?

Almost all US & European ski schools make helmets mandatory for children.

Car drivers and passengers must wear seat belts - as even the most ardent libertarian must accept that they save lives. It was frequent at inquests 20 years ago to hear that the occupant of a a fatal car crash wasn't wearing a seat belt.

The death rate per mile in the UK for cyclists is 9 times that of car occupants (for motor cyclists it is 30 times car users).

That's probably why motor cycle helmets are compulsory and people whinged and moaned about having to wear them.

Deaths per mile is not always the best way to compare accident statistics. It means that plane crashes are safer than car crashes, despite the higher percentage of people involved in them being killed.

The cause of the death is more important, along with the cause of the accident that led to it. That's how you can genuinely make things safer rather than a panacea of 'helmets' or 'seatbelts' or 'speed'.

Marco_Panettone

kerby_crawler wrote: »

I wonder why I have never noticed any helmet mirrors in use. Is it because there are hardly any out there, or is it because they are so small as to be fairly ineffective?

It's because you don't need them. It's more than possible to check over your shoulder every 10 seconds, and again before moving road position.

kerby_crawler

Marco_Panettone wrote: »

It's more than possible to check over your shoulder every 10 seconds, and again before moving road position.

If that is sufficient for cyclists, then it is presumably also sufficient for other road users (who are infinitely less vulnerable). Yet it is regarded as essential for motorists, especially HGV drivers, to have a full set of rear-view mirrors, and they are repeatedly criticised by cyclists for failing to use them properly. The mirrors on modern HGVs are so big that they can significantly blank out the normal view through the side windows.

custardy

kerby_crawler wrote: »

If that is sufficient for cyclists, then it is presumably also sufficient for other road users (who are infinitely less vulnerable). Yet it is regarded as essential for motorists, especially HGV drivers, to have a full set of rear-view mirrors, and they are repeatedly criticised by cyclists for failing to use them properly. The mirrors on modern HGVs are so big that they can significantly blank out the normal view through the side windows.

lol,so you are comparing the vision available to a cyclist with that of an HGV?

kerby_crawler

custardy wrote: »

lol,so you are comparing the vision available to a cyclist with that of an HGV?

I think many cyclists have a blinkered view of reality!

Dave_C_2

kerby_crawler wrote: »

I wonder why I have never noticed any helmet mirrors in use. Is it because there are hardly any out there, or is it because they are so small as to be fairly ineffective?

Two possible answers to this
1) They are so small that you haven't noticed them
2) Not every cyclist wears a helmet, so the fraction of cyclists using helmet mirrors is reduced

I returned to cycling after many years absence. As a driver, the first thing I fixed to my bike was a mirror as I was so used to using a mirror in traffic.
As time wears on I find that I use my mirror less and less and use the glance over the shoulder (lifesaver) much more. I still use the mirror to keep an eye on overtaking traffic on straight roads.

Dave

custardy

kerby_crawler wrote: »

I think many cyclists have a blinkered view of reality!

in what sense?
do you drive?
do you cycle?
If you do both. does turning your head in the car,give the same amount of rear vision as on the bike?

Marco_Panettone

Marco_Panettone wrote: »

It's more than possible to check over your shoulder every 10 seconds, and again before moving road position.

kerby_crawler wrote: »

If that is sufficient for cyclists, then it is presumably also sufficient for other road users (who are infinitely less vulnerable). Yet it is regarded as essential for motorists, especially HGV drivers, to have a full set of rear-view mirrors, and they are repeatedly criticised by cyclists for failing to use them properly. The mirrors on modern HGVs are so big that they can significantly blank out the normal view through the side windows.

You seem to have misunderstood what I've said. On the bike I check what's behind me every few seconds by turning my head. This gives me a 100% clear view, with nothing blocking my line of sight. I do this on straight roads with no turnings, when cycling normally. When there are hazards (eg turnings, corners, bus stops, junctions, crossings, etc) I check additionally. When I'm changing road position I check additionally.

This is the same as I do when I drive, except in a car I cannot turn my head for a clear view - there's a seat, and various parts of the car in the way. This is why I have to use the mirrors that are secured to both sides of the car, and the windscreen (I don't have these things on my bike). This gives me a view of what's behind me. I do this on straight roads with no turnings, when driving normally. When there are hazards (eg turnings, corners, bus stops, junctions, crossings, etc) I check additionally. When I'm changing road position I check additionally.

If I don't continue to check behind me when I drive I would not be using my mirrors correctly. This is especially important approaching junctions. To not check behind you makes the road dangerous. That is why I do it however I travel.

Does that make sense? Or should I put a mirror on my bike's windscreen?

BobbieTo

bluebeary wrote: »

its personal choice for the most part, i prefer to wear a helmet, through personal experience and me feeling more safe wearing it

I totally agree with you!