Straight from the horse's mouth:
"Child Cycle Helmet Campaign
It is the first anniversary of the important campaign started by the Herald
and Post and myself to lobby for a change in the law to make it compulsory
for children to wear cycle helmets when riding their bikes. We have made
very good progress this year in highlighting the safety benefits of cycle
helmets for children. I presented a petition to Parliament after the Herald
and Post ran an excellent campaign gathering support for a change in the
law. I have met regularly with the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust, a
charity which promotes the use of cycle helmets for children through
education in schools and clubs. Many MPs support a change in the law and
local people have also been promoting the campaign, such as the new
Wellingborough bike shop Cyclelife which ran a competition for children to
design the best cycle helmet and gave away a bike and a safety helmet to the
winner.
In June, the Herald and Post, the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust and I met
with the Minister for Transport. The Minister promised that the Government
was to undertake an independent review of the dangers to children if they do
not wear a safety helmet when cycling.
I have been fortunate enough to be granted by the Speaker of the House of
Commons, to move a 10-minute Rule Bill on the issue which will be held on
the floor of the Commons on 16 October 2007. My Bill will make it compulsory
for children to wear cycle helmets when riding bicycles. It will ensure that
MPs will be given the opportunity to debate the issue and have a vote on the
matter.
Why do we need this Bill? In 1996 14.4% of children wore cycle helmets when
cycling and 17% of people over the age of 16 wore them. The latest figures
available show that only 14.1% of children wear helmets yet 29% of adults
wear them. Not surprisingly, adult deaths and injuries from cycling are
declining whereas children's are increasing. In 2005 there were 3759
children injured of which 20 were killed. Unfortunately, in 2006 the number
of deaths increased by 55% to 31 deaths. It is estimated that of those 31,
18 could have survived if they were wearing a helmet.
If my Bill was to become law, it would save children from dying and reduce
injuries. It would also save our health service millions of pounds in
treating seriously injured children who have been in cycle accidents."
Is there some sort of gullible MP gene that means they are particularly
likely to be taken in by a single issue, fanatical pressure group, without
bothering to check a few simple facts?
--
regards
Richard Burton