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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why wearing a cycle helmet isn't made law?

279 replies

sensuallettuce · 26/05/2012 16:48

I struggle to make my kids wear a cycle helmet as they perceive it to be very uncool ( and don't listen to me suggesting it may be more uncool to be dead or brain damaged Sad.)

I lived in New Zealand for a while where it is law to wear one which seems to take away the "option" for school kids esp - everyone wears one - there is no debate.

Driving through town today I passed a lady on a push bike wearing a sam brown and loads of reflectors on her backpack but no helmet - so its our responsibility to see her rather than for her to protect herself.

AIBU to wonder what the reason is for it not being law to wear a helmet on a bicycle as it is on a motorcycle in this country? Even if not just for kids?

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 26/05/2012 17:20

In answer to your question

Due to the fact that in countries where helmet wearing has been made law the cycle numbers have dropped

Due to the fact that in countries where helmet wearing has been made law the cycle accidents have increased

That cyclists live on average longer than none cyclists means that if you don't cycle you are at risk of dying younger - why take that risk Really it is safer to start cycling than be a none cyclists as you are likely to die sooner - barmy but true

Noqontrol · 26/05/2012 17:20

I heard on the radio recently about some new cardboard helmets coming on to the market. Apparently they are much better at absorbing the impact than the plastic ones. But they are really expensive.

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 26/05/2012 17:20

So who on this thread allows their DC's out on the road without one on?

OP posts:
Noqontrol · 26/05/2012 17:22

I don't. I already said that. Dc wear one and I don't.

RubyGates · 26/05/2012 17:23

I can't stand wearing one. It seems to reduce my peripheral vision (or at least I am distractingly aware of the edge of the helmet) And I hate having anything near my ears. I am far less safe on a bike whilst wearing a helmet on a bike because I am distracted by the damn thing. DS2 has to wear one while he's on the back of the bike whatever he says.

But who is going to be responsible for children away from their parents who legally have to wear one? Will the parent have to pay the fine for non-compliance even if they have provided the helmet and the child takes it off the moment they're round the corner?

How is it logistically possible to police something that has debateable benefits, when the police force is at full stretch as it is?

We have such a sedentary generation of children as it is, surely it's better to do nothing to deter them from getting at least some exercise?

So while I think that wearing one is advisable, I don't think it should be mandatory.

Idocrazythings · 26/05/2012 17:27

I wonder the same thing. And also why kids don't wear helmets whilst scootering. And also why schools don't have a "no hat no play policy" in the sun.

Loads of people ride bikes in Australia and a helmet is just second nature. Its been the law since the early 90's. I remember it coming in and being incredibly pissed off over it, refusing to ride my bike, as it messed up my 90's teased fringe- but ? I got over it. Personally I'd rather do anything to increase my chances of an intact frontal lobe!

yakbutter · 26/05/2012 17:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Idocrazythings · 26/05/2012 17:32

Rubygates- sorry but you sound a little like a man complaining about wearing a condom Grin. (just to clarify- said in humour, not to be mean)

ivykaty44 · 26/05/2012 17:33

Op The ctc have a whle section dedicated to helmet wearing and there stance is that it should be up to each person to decide whether to wear a helmet or not and it gives there reasons on the website here

AgentZigzag · 26/05/2012 17:34

'So you let your kids cycle without one do you Agentzigzag?'

I said in an earlier post 'Me and DH don't wear helmets out cycling but the DDs do'.

I'm not being awkward not wearing one, I don't want to, and as it stands it's a choice I'm free to make.

I make the choice for the DDs to wear theirs, and as a poster said (sorry, can't see who it was now) it's do as I say not as I do.

wfrances · 26/05/2012 17:34

i think it should be made law.
there are going to be many accidents where the impact is so severe that it wont make a difference but my son got knocked off his bike riding down a steep hill-a car just pulled straight in front of him(hit and run ,no witnesses)
he was 9 and always wore a helmet-apart from this one time......
from where he was found unconcious(sp?) they could see his head had struck the kerb
fast response paramedic later wanted to know why was he not wearing a helmet and that it could have prevented a less serious head injury and
he did lecture me on casualties who he thought could have been saved if only theyd worn a helmet .
my son is unable to get back on a bike on the road ,but my youngest is bmx /scooter crazy but if he doesnt wear his helmet his scooter/bmx are off limits.

puds11 · 26/05/2012 17:35

If they are adults then its their own responsibility, although i would still have something to say. I'm talking about under the age of 18/ living in my house (my rules).

ivykaty44 · 26/05/2012 17:37

this is an interesting table showing the deaths from cycling 114 and the deaths from obesity 3000 in 2003 If you are good at maths you will be able to work out how much more dangerous it is to be obese than not wear a helmet

puds11 · 26/05/2012 17:40

Well my child is not fat, so i will continue to make her wear a helmet Hmm

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 26/05/2012 17:40

It's more dangerous to ride a horse too - that doesn't mean I'm not going to make my DC wear a helmet on a bike Hmm.

Interesting that posters saying research shows they aren't effective still make their DC wear one.

OP posts:
complexnumber · 26/05/2012 17:43

OP, you haven't actually provided any evidence to suggest that it should be made compulsory, other than your own (limited?) personal experiences.

Other posters have backed their up their arguments with recognised research.

I think you need to reassess your original question.

ivykaty44 · 26/05/2012 17:44

further investigation of that table and table 4 the bottom graph shows cyclist and pedestrians injuries are equal in western australia, yet it is only cyclists that wear helmets not pedestrians. Is it a case that pedestrians should wear helmets or should we look more closely at the cause of the accident to pedestrians and cyclists and see if there is a common denominator to stop the accidents rather than try to prevent the injury after the accident has happened

ivykaty44 · 26/05/2012 17:45

dd2 has to wear a helmet when she races (otherwise she is not allowed to race) - I don't force her to wear a helmet at other times

AgentZigzag · 26/05/2012 17:45

I make the DDs wear them because it's a convention now, and they mean more to me than anything and I'd never forgive myself if I could have prevented them being injured.

ivykaty44 · 26/05/2012 17:47

It's more dangerous to ride a horse too - that doesn't mean I'm not going to make my DC wear a helmet on a bike

It is just as dangerous to be a pedestrian so do you make your dc wear a helmet when walking on the pavement - otherwise your own argument seems faulty Hmm

TheCreepingLurgy · 26/05/2012 17:52

Puds11, I'm sure you do understand the relation between cycling and obesity. If more people gave up cycling because of compulsory helmet-wearing, it would very likely contribute to more obesity (and probably more car use, with more pollution etc). It is important to keep or get people on their bikes. The benefits for the population outweigh the risks. Your personal risk you can minimise by wearing a helmet, by all means.

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 26/05/2012 17:54

I need to reassess nothing this isn't a university debate. It's my opinion and if police and paramedics are telling us we should wear them I am happy to accept that on the whole they are a positive thing rather than a negative.

Research is great but it doesn't give a definitive answer and it depends who has carried it out, who with, who for, who paid or it, for how long etc etc.

I want my kids to have their heads protected when they are out in their bikes. End of.

I think other kids have a right to be afforded this luxury too and considering here no one has said they actively allow their under 18 yr old DC'S out on bikes without a helmet it suggests to me not many trust the findings of the research either.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 26/05/2012 17:58

But your logic is flawed, you dc is more likely to be hurt in a walking accident than on a bike - yet you ignore the tiger and worry about the mouse.

squeakytoy · 26/05/2012 17:59

I wouldnt wear a helmet, so I am glad it isnt law. I fell off my bike hundreds of times as a kid, had grazed hands, grazed knees and plenty of cuts and bruises, but never once hurt my head. When riding now, I dont travel at any great speed to the point where I would be out of control, nor do I ride on the roads, I prefer cycle paths in the local parks or tow paths along the canals..

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 26/05/2012 18:00

I completely agree with that post. I always wear a helmet, and that is my personal choice.

There is a difference between personal choice and the various ramifications of compulsion.

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