DS Refusing to wear a bike helmet to school

[mymadworld]

Ds (13) has lost his bus pass and is currently cycling to school but refuses to wear his helmet. Aside from locking up his bike and making him walk the 4 miles, any suggestions? I've tried reasoning with him, explaining the dangers etc but he's just not interested and he cycles on busy roads so I'm really worried about him coming off with no protection.

My son wanted to cycle same age, refused to wear a helmet. No helmet, no bike so he walks. He needs to find his pass or wear the helmet it’s a long walk for him but perhaps he’ll take care of his things in future

My mum promised to pay for driving lessons if I'd wear mine. I suspect that's (a) very expensive and (b) a bit too far in the future to be a good incentive, though...

No helmet, no bike, no discussion. He can walk.

You lock his bike and make him walk.

I had this with mine. I said no helmet no bike. He never rode the bike again. I'd compromise on most things but not that.

On the fence here - I thought the difference between wearing a helmet or not was minimal in terms of protection.

Literally none of the children at our school wear a helmet (I know this as stand on duty by the bike sheds as they leave) - I wonder whether all of their parents are aware. I do think this makes it difficult for the kids when they're at an age where they care so much about what others think!

Local school presents the same scene here. Of about 1000 cycling teens I would say only 4 or 5 wear helmets.

I would compromise. If he really wants to ride he might agree to the helmet but take it off as soon as he is out of sight anyway.

He is possibly in just as much danger walking. I have seen cars skid onto pavements after misjudging a turn or in order to avoid hitting animals in the road, and a car thrown onto someone's lawn after a collision.

A teenager in our town cycled to school without a helmet back in February. He was involved in an accident where he was hit by a car. He sadly died. He very likely wouldn’t have sustained the injuries that he did if he’d worn a helmet.
The helmet is a must.

Lock up the bike. I'm a pretty soft Mum, but on safety stuff I will not budge an inch.

I drive on country roads regularly and it makes me cringe when I see cyclists without helmets. They're literally dicing with death.

Headteacher at dd's school is on the gate handing out detentions to anyone with a bike and no helmet. I know it shouldn't be their responsibility, but it is rather effective.

Lock up the bike and give him several Saturdays cleaning the house for refusing to do as he was told.

I'm also pretty sure that statistically wearing helmets isn't safer but obvioulsy to an individual involved in an accident it makes a difference.

Locking up the bike is all very well but how does the child get to school, is there a safe walking route?

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately walking is probably as bad if not worse as aside from being a not inconsiderable distance (4 miles each way so well over an hour on foot) there are multiple areas without footpaths along the way.
I honestly don't know what to do for the best as they won't issue a replacement pass, I can't afford the extra £15 a week plus want him to get a bit more exercise so everything about cycling makes sense except for this bloody helmet argument.

Apparently 'no-one cycles to school' so it's clearly not cool rocking up on your bike let alone with helmet on but I'm a cyclist so know the roads & just don't want him on them without lights, hiviz and helmet but have accepted that former might be stretching it at secondary school.

Will discuss with dh and think on this further

The protection helmets provide is absolutely NOT minimal (A&E nurse here), they can literally be the difference between life and death or serious permanent disability. In my house helmets are completely non-negotiable, no helmet = no wheels.

Why not speak to the school and see if they will enforce a punishment each time he arrived without a helmet? Explain the situation; that you're punishing him at home.when he doesn't wear it but you need them to enforce a punishment at school too?

No helmet, no bike.

Which local authority are you? Because our LA only charges £10 for a replacement pass. I'm shocked that others charge so much you cannot afford to replace it ( I believe you just annoyed at any policy that stops people getting one)

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No helmet, no bike. Ask him how cool the other kids will think he is if he has to turn up in a wheelchair.

Cycle helmets are not mandatory because the health benefit of cycling (at the population level) is said to be greater than the risk of injury. That is not the same as saying that helmets do not protect from injury - they most certainly do. I think you are right to insist he wears one.

4 miles or not, my kid would be walking if he refused to wear a helmet.

The evidence for cycle helmets (used on roads rather than competitive sport or stunt riding) is actually fairly inconclusive.

On balance, there is probably a slight survival advantage in wearing a helmet, but, of course if you are in the type of accident to suffer a catastrophic head injury, you are likely to have other severe injuries as well, so this muddies the waters quite a lot.

My kids, I would strongly encourage them to wear them because I think the evidence they cause harm is limited (14 strangulations and maybe increased risk of neck injury), I always wore a helmet, but then again I was so socially disinteresed that I didnt care what anybody thought about it.

Another no helmet: no bike here.
A friend’s teenage son decided the same when skiing. 1st time he was sent back to fetch it and told firmly no helmet, no skiing. The second time, the rest of the party was agog at the speed with which my friend, his mum, wordlessly yanked off his ski pass (it was before the pocket ones came out). He was outraged, but he missed the rest of that day’s skiing and wore his helmet the rest of that week.
I doubt him walking will really be more dangerous.

Agree no helmet no bike. Absolutely no way I’d let my kids cycle without a helmet. I know of 2 instances personally where cycling without a helmet has proved fatal.

Hold on.. Why won't they issue him a new pass? Have you paid for a yearly one or something? People lose bus passes; they must have some way of sorting it out.

@Sooverthemill it's a free bus pass and they will only grant 1 replacement per year for £10 but he's done that already (managed a whole year with the same one in yr7 ).

Well it came up again at bedtime before I had a chance to talk to dh and I just said it's non-negotiable: wear a helmet or I'll lock your bike away and you walk. I told him to let me know his decision Sunday before bed as he'll need an alarm to get him up an hour earlier if he's walking .

I will also email school about assistance in enforcing the rule and query if it is/could be a school-wide policy or there's any way they would support a cycle to school with a helmet ---- scheme as so many of the kids are driven far shorter distances and the traffic is horrendous.

Thanks again will report back Monday .