Bike helmets

Tyler119

Does anyone else think that cyclists should be fined by the police for not wearing helmets?

Recently I have come across many with no helmets, but are more than happy to wear headphones. Quite a number never look anywhere but forward and seem oblivious to the fact that there is traffic all around them.

I am all for people being able to use the roads to cycle. I have not had any near misses myself, but I have seen plenty. I have also started to see cyclists just tear it through red lights which on a few occasions has meant a car had to make an emergency stop.

facade

As there is no legal requirement to wear a helmet, they can't be fined for not wearing one.

If you wear earphones in a car, it can be classed as careless driving, the Highway code (rule 68) has a MUST NOT ride in a dangerous careless or inconsiderate manner, I don't know if careless cycling is an offence, but earphones would certainly be careless, and in the event of an accident whilst wearing earphones, more blame would be attributed to the cyclist, and the magic "compo" would be reduced.


On the subject of earphones, when cycling (quite legally and correctly) along the canal towpath I often come across people walking totally oblivious to their surroundings immersed in loud music.

I tinkle my little bell, and they don't hear it. I say "excuse me" and they don't hear it. I end up stopped behind them shouting "EXCUSE ME!!!" and they jump out of their skins.

I could easily have been a murder/mugger/rapist and could have knifed them/snatched their bag or 'phone/got the sack over their head/coshed them and they'd have no chance.

Natural selection I suppose.........;)

Keep_pedalling

You want to fine people for not breaking the law!!!

Tyler119

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

You want to fine people for not breaking the law!!!

That is not exactly what I said...

To hep the pedantic individuals of the nation....should the law be changed so that not wearing a safety helmet ; which conforms to British Standards and while travelling on public highways be enforced through measures such as fines and or mandatory road safety courses.

spadoosh

Tyler119 wrote: »

Does anyone else think that cyclists should be fined by the police for not wearing helmets?

Recently I have come across many with no helmets, but are more than happy to wear headphones. Quite a number never look anywhere but forward and seem oblivious to the fact that there is traffic all around them.

I am all for people being able to use the roads to cycle. I have not had any near misses myself, but I have seen plenty. I have also started to see cyclists just tear it through red lights which on a few occasions has meant a car had to make an emergency stop.

I do wear a helmet.

Although think it fine if someone chooses not to.

I remember hearing that apparently youre more likely to be involved in an accident wearing a helmet than not. A mix of cyclists and drivers willing to take more risks when wearing a helmet.

So its something like, more likely to die not wearing a helmet, more likely to be in an accident by wearing a helmet. Good choice to make that isnt it, bet that one didnt cross your mind when you where putting the road to rights.

Silver-Surfer_2

facade wrote: »

As there is no legal requirement to wear a helmet, they can't be fined for not wearing one.

If you wear earphones in a car, it can be classed as careless driving, the Highway code (rule 68) has a MUST NOT ride in a dangerous careless or inconsiderate manner, I don't know if careless cycling is an offence, but earphones would certainly be careless, and in the event of an accident whilst wearing earphones, more blame would be attributed to the cyclist, and the magic "compo" would be reduced.


On the subject of earphones, when cycling (quite legally and correctly) along the canal towpath I often come across people walking totally oblivious to their surroundings immersed in loud music.

I tinkle my little bell, and they don't hear it. I say "excuse me" and they don't hear it. I end up stopped behind them shouting "EXCUSE ME!!!" and they jump out of their skins.

I could easily have been a murder/mugger/rapist and could have knifed them/snatched their bag or 'phone/got the sack over their head/coshed them and they'd have no chance.

Natural selection I suppose.........;)

So you're one of the few who actually has a permit?

bigjl

Yes I think cycle helmets should be compulsory.

One life saved is enough to justify this change in the law

warehouse

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

So you're one of the few who actually has a permit?

You appear to be confusing cycling with fishing.

JP08

bigjl wrote: »

One life saved is enough to justify this change in the law

Christ on a bike (helmet or not), the things that could be outlawed by that logic !

spadoosh

bigjl wrote: »

Yes I think cycle helmets should be compulsory.

One life saved is enough to justify this change in the law

JP08 wrote: »

Christ on a bike (helmet or not), the things that could be outlawed by that logic !

You could save ~ 1,500 people per year in the UK if you just banned cars?! Thats just from people crashing in to each other, suggestions of ~13,000 deaths a year from air pollution. (not all cars obviously).

I take it you will back my push to outlaw motor vehicles? (Id say you could keep your electric ones but the mining and production of the batteries is pretty nasty business, and then theres the shipping parts all around the world. etc)

And i need to be told to wear a helmet?

Try worrying about the things that involve you.

wongataa

bigjl wrote: »

Yes I think cycle helmets should be compulsory.

One life saved is enough to justify this change in the law

The jury is out on whether bicycle helmets actually help in the scheme of things. In some crashes they can help. In some crashes they can cause additional issues. In some crashes it doesn't matter as the head was not involved. The standards they have to meet are also not very realistic of what sort of impacts they may need to protect against.

In places where helmets have become compulsory levels of cycling have dropped which causes general health issues as the population gets less exercise.

In big cycling places such as Denmark and the Netherlands very few people on bikes wear helmets and the incidents of head injuries while cycling are very very low.

Maybe vastly improved cycling infrastructure and motorist education about cyclists would benefit more in the long run.

I see no issues with the current situation. If you think it better to wear a bicycle helmet then do so (I do) but if you prefer not to then don't.