BeHIT have put out a gloating press release, again alluding to new
evidence. I watch these things pretty closely and have not seen any,
so I assmue this is a figleaf to cover the volte-face given that the
evidence has moved, if anything, further against compulsion following
the experience of Canada.
Excuse me for a moment.
[censored]! THEY DON'T EVEN CYCLE! WHY CAN'T THEY GO AWAY AND [censored]
ABOUT WITH SOMETHING THEY UNDERSTAND????
Right, normal service resumed....
Note that the "noted for editors" includes two of the four claims
about which I complained to the ASA. They are worded very slightly
differently, but the substantive claim is identical.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DOCTORS SUPPORT COMPULSORY CYCLE HELMETS FOR ALL
THE British Medical Association's decision to take tough action,
protect
cyclists' lives and support compulsory cycle helmets for both children
and
adults has been welcomed by The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust.
Until now, the BMA has supported the use of helmets by all cyclists
but has
not been in favour of introducing legislation that would make them
mandatory.
However, after reviewing the latest scientific evidence, the BMA now
believes that the arguments against compulsory cycle helmets are no
longer
valid.
Angela Lee, chief executive of The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust,
said:
"The Trust is delighted the BMA has finally come out in support of
cycle
helmet legislation.
"The need for mandatory cycle helmets has already been recognised by
the
Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child
Health
and the Royal College of Surgeons.
"There is now a concerted effort to get helmets on cyclists' heads and
particularly children's. Helmets can't prevent accidents but they can
make a
difference if a cyclist is involved in an accident particularly
off-road
where the majority of children's head injuries are sustained."
Earlier this year The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust backed the first
ever
attempt to introduce a Private Member's Bill, which would have made it
compulsory for all children under the age of 16 in the UK to wear a
cycle
helmet.
At the time the BMA did not support legislation but the introduction
of the
bill persuaded the Association to review its policy.
Using evidence from those countries where cycle helmets are
compulsory, the
BMA has concluded that legislation would help to reduce the number of
cycle-related deaths and head injuries in the UK.
The BMA also believes that making helmets compulsory would not have a
significant negative effect on cycling levels.
A BMA spokeswoman said: "As with any other legislation, we believe
that
enforcement is as important as the law itself and to achieve maximum
compliance, the legislation should be complemented by mass educational
and
promotional campaigns.
The BMA now wants cycle manufacturers and retailers to consider
supplying
free cycle helmets with every bike sold or for the Government to
subsidise
the cost of helmets.
The need for cheaper helmets has already been identified by the The
Bicycle
Helmet Initiative Trust.
Next week, (Monday, November 8) during Road Safety Week, the Trust
will be
launching its Concessionary Helmet Voucher Scheme that will enable low
income families to buy youngsters' cycle helmets for just £3.50.
ENDS
Media contact: Amanda Clegg at The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust
Tel: 0118 958 3585 Mobile: 07771 858166
Angela Lee at The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust
Tel: 0118 958 3585 Mobile: 07940 540291
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Cycle helmets have been shown to reduce head injury by up to 88 per
cent
(Thompson & Revera 1997).
BHIT estimates that around 22,000 under 16-year-olds in the UK attend
hospital for a cycling related head injury each year (extrapolated
from LASS and HASS data).
BHIT believes teenagers are at greatest risk of cycling related head
injuries and the group most reluctant to wear a helmet due to peer
pressure
and image.
BHIT is a national registered charity No.1069476 founded in 1998.
Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University
