Sigh!
Tony
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3756385.stm
Call for mandatory cycle helmets
The law should be changed so all cyclists have to wear helmets, UK researchers
say.
Edinburgh University experts argue that advertising campaigns promoting cycle
helmets are not working.
They say that, ideally, both adults and children should be made to wear
helmets when cycling.
At the very least, under 16s should have to wear helmets, they say in the
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Edinburgh University's Professor Sheikh, along with colleagues from the Health
Commission and Imperial College London, looked at the arguments for and
against helmet legislation.
They found the evidence for the effectiveness of cycle helmets was strong.
Evidence shows helmets offer substantial protection against head injury and
there is a strong association between increasing helmet use and declining
injury rates.
"The consensus is that they reduce anything up to 88% of serious head injuries
if they are used," said Professor Sheikh, from the Division of Community
Health Sciences.
"In an ideal world I would like to see a massive uptake of cycle helmets among
children and adults in Britain voluntarily but we know that voluntary measures
have had little impact," he said.
Only one in five regular cyclists uses a helmet, he said.
Ethical debate
Opponents argue that making helmets mandatory for cyclists removes individual
choice, infringing on civil liberties.
They also worry that cyclists will be so put off they will stop using this
healthy mode of transport.
But Professor Sheikh's team argue that there are good grounds for compulsory
cycle helmets.
Bicycle helmet laws in other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand,
have reduced cycling-related head injuries and fatalities with good uptake,
they say.
Also, any decline in popularity of cycling after legislation tends to be short
term.
"There may be a temporary knock-on effect in Britain but in the long term I
don't think it will have any sustainable impact, just like motorcycle
helmets," said Professor Sheikh.
He believes most people would accept the legislation.
"A lot of people will see it as being a sensible move, similar to motorcycle
helmet and seatbelt laws, but some will construe it as a constriction of their
personal choice.
"On balance, we do think the legislation should be pushed forward," he said.
One rule for all
A Protective Headgear for Young Cyclists Bill was introduced to parliament
this year. This would make it mandatory for all children under the age of 16
to wear helmets when cycling.
The bill is due for a second reading in the House of Commons on 18 June.
Professor Sheikh said this was a step in the right direction, but not enough.
"Really it should be introduced across the board, otherwise we are sending out
quite mixed signals," he said.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said public support was needed
before such a law could be passed.
"At the moment, the wearing rates are relatively low. In order to make
something mandatory, you need to have a certain level of compliance.
"We are keen to see as many people as possible wearing helmets. We encourage
people to wear cycle helmets. But what we do not want to see is people
discouraged from cycling because they do not want to wear one.
"There's a perception by some people it's not cool. We need to get over that,"
he said.