does a helmet make you feel safe

craigdurkee

here is aus we have had compulsary helmet cam wearing for ages now, after watching top gear and the bike race the other night i see that even in central london, not many people wwear helmets

do you guys think they work and do you use them

Underscore

craigdurkee wrote:

here is aus we have had compulsary helmet cam wearing for ages now, after watching top gear and the bike race the other night i see that even in central london, not many people wwear helmets

do you guys think they work and do you use them

Interesting that the thread title isn't reflected in the poll! I started wearing a helmet when I started cycle commuting. Does it make me feel safer? Not really (on my commute at least); since most of my usual route is along busy, national speed limit A-road, the chances of a helmet making any difference in a collision is slim. However, I still wear a helmet, if only to set an example to my kids - where I believe that helmets are shown to be beneficial. Also, I do feel safer wearing a helmet when mountain biking.

_

WyS

never.

ChrisLS

...I should say slightly safer...But I would never off road without a helmet...

Gussio

I feel invincible when wearing my helmet and become inclined to make dangerous and life-threatening manoeuvres when out in heavy traffic*



*note heavily layered sarcasm...

Crapaud

Oops! I just clicked 'no' as I thought the poll would reflect the thread title.

I always wear a helmet. In the 2 accidents that I've had, where the head came into play, the helmet did what it's supposed to. In both cases I'm sure that I would have suffered more than a slight concussion.* So, yes, they work IMO.

Do I feel safer wearing a helmet? No. But neither do I feel any less safe.







*N.B. I didn't say it saved my life!!!

Crapaud

Gussio wrote:

I feel invincible when wearing my helmet and become inclined to make dangerous and life-threatening manoeuvres when out in heavy traffic*



*note heavily layered sarcasm...

You are ...



...and I claim my £5.

chrisjsmith

My helmet saved me from at least a nasty head scab a couple of weeks ago. Don't forget it's still soft flesh which you don't want dragging over the dirt! I have doubts over impact protection though.

Belv

Yes i wear one and it has saved me a degree of injury on two occasions and was completely useless on another.

Wearing one doesn't make me feel safe. I think feeling too safe is one reason we have so many bad car drivers.

jedster

my helmet does not make me feel safe but it DOES make me feel SAFER - otherwise I wouln't wear it, would I?

tardington

EXACTLY, it's a sensible safety thing to wear. Like lights!

I have to say, when I see another cyclist without a helmet, I give them I wide berth as they (generally in my experience) are the more dangerous cyclists - shoot up the left of traffic, turning without indicating, stopping without warning, etc.

Sorry about that last bit, but it's true!

Belv

If car drivers work on the same theory, we'd all be safer without them?

woodford2barbican

My helmet saved my life. I fell off at 25mph and hit my head and you should have seen the nasty crack in my helmet, if it had not been there I am certain that I would not be writing this now. Helmet wearing should be compulsory - it is irresponsible not to.

(Some or all of the above may or may not be true and may not atually represent my true opinion on this matter, I am just bored.....)

Cunobelin

I fell over drunk and banged my head. If I was wearing ahelmet I would not have banged my head. - Therefore helmets will sve drunks from injuries!

tardington

Belv wrote:

If car drivers work on the same theory, we'd all be safer without them?

Thanks for that suggestion 8)








:?

t4tomo

I wear one a) because I want my kids to wear them so there is a degree of example setting and b) it can hardly make you less safe so I wear one for the occasional time when it would have been better to have one on. c) the peak keeps the sun from my eyes in summer. 8)

Underscore

Belv wrote:

If car drivers work on the same theory, we'd all be safer without them?

Actually, wasn't there a study recently that showed precisely that? On average, cars passed closer to cyclists wearing helmets than those not wearing them. I belive that it also showed that cyclists perceived as being female (including men with long hair) were given more space than those perceived as being male.

So, presumably, we'd all be safer wearing a long hair wig than a bike helmet? Discuss...

_

thedaffodilfish

Underscore wrote:

Actually, wasn't there a study recently that showed precisely that? On average, cars passed closer to cyclists wearing helmets than those not wearing them. I belive that it also showed that cyclists perceived as being female (including men with long hair) were given more space than those perceived as being male.

So, presumably, we'd all be safer wearing a long hair wig than a bike helmet? Discuss...

_

When I commute to work or am simply out cycling in traffic wearing my cycling gear, hi viz clothing and helmet, I find that cars seem totally oblivious to me, cut me up, push me out of lanes etc whereas any time i've popped out in civvies without a helmet, the traffic appears to give me a bit wider berth. Or at least they seem to take notice more as I get angry shouts, horns etc.

I stil prefer to cycle with a helmet, lights and hiviz gear.

in answer to the poll/topic: Yes I do wear a helmet but I'd feel safer on a road free of cars.

Plax

I wear a helmet. It doesn't really make me feel any safer than if I wasn't wearing one, but for low speed impacts then it probably would help if you hit your head. I mainly wear it as
a) it stops my hair blowing in my face and getting knotty,
b) it provides some cover in the rain
c) my partner works for the same company as me and has a birds eye view of the driveway and car park. I would get a bollocking if I cycled past his office window without one! :roll:

Cunobelin

Underscore wrote:

Belv wrote:

If car drivers work on the same theory, we'd all be safer without them?

Actually, wasn't there a study recently that showed precisely that? On average, cars passed closer to cyclists wearing helmets than those not wearing them. I belive that it also showed that cyclists perceived as being female (including men with long hair) were given more space than those perceived as being male.

So, presumably, we'd all be safer wearing a long hair wig than a bike helmet? Discuss...

_

http://www.drianwalker.com/work.html Dr Ian Walker


THere was also a DfT report that similarly showed that many drivers saw helmeted and Lycra clad cyclists as being "competent" and that as a result there was no need to give room or slow down when overtaking!

markyboy2005

woodford2barbican wrote:

you should have seen the nasty crack in my helmet,

I'd rather not thanks :oops:

DavidTQ

I wear a helmet in case I fall off the bike, it doesnt make me feel much safer as my number one concern on the roads is the cars and helmets dont do anything to help against a car slamming into you... But when the time comes and I mess up and end up with my head in contact with the ground I will be glad I wore my helmet.

However it doesnt make me feel any better at all about the cars which are my No 1 Concern. My best defence against them is my road use, and even perfect road use cant defend against the worst of the other road users.

Panter

jedster wrote:

my helmet does not make me feel safe but it DOES make me feel SAFER - otherwise I wouln't wear it, would I?

What he said

Chris

jam1ec

Underscore wrote:

Belv wrote:

If car drivers work on the same theory, we'd all be safer without them?

Actually, wasn't there a study recently that showed precisely that? On average, cars passed closer to cyclists wearing helmets than those not wearing them. I belive that it also showed that cyclists perceived as being female (including men with long hair) were given more space than those perceived as being male.

So, presumably, we'd all be safer wearing a long hair wig than a bike helmet? Discuss...

_

What worrys me is not the cars that see me and choose how much room to allow as they pass but the ones that do not see me. I think this statistic about the gap at the average car passes at is irrelevant and misleading, if we just looked at the average it would suggest there is always a gap.

jedster wrote:

my helmet does not make me feel safe but it DOES make me feel SAFER - otherwise I wouln't wear it, would I?

i agree

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe

tardie wrote:

EXACTLY, it's a sensible safety thing to wear. Like lights!

I have to say, when I see another cyclist without a helmet, I give them I wide berth as they (generally in my experience) are the more dangerous cyclists - shoot up the left of traffic, turning without indicating, stopping without warning, etc.

Sorry about that last bit, but it's true!

What a load of crap. Only yesterday I saw a helmeted cyclist jump a red light. Is it right therefore for me to come to jump to the conclusion that all helmeted cyclists do this ???

Bassjunkieuk

After my accident last year, in which I ended up being launched into a rather lovely black metal pool.

I ended up hitting the pole with the back of my hand and my head and I'm fairly sure I wouldn't have been rolling over a few seconds later to see my bloody hand had I not been wearing a helmet!

I too also wear my helmet to set an example to my kids and will put it on and insist they put theirs on even if we are only cycling around in circles at the end of my mum's drive! They can (and do) still have an accident and bash their head on the floor, wall, a tree or even each other even when their not traveling that fast!

TheFoolio888

It makes me feel safe-r.

I know that if I hit my head against a car windscreen or bump it off the floor...it will more that likely help me. I understand that if I get run over by a truck...or crash into a wall at 30mph it probably won't.

I equate it to wearing shin pads at football...if someone gives me a whack...it will prevent me getting too bruised or hurt...but if someone flies in two footed it will make no difference

TheFoolio888

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe wrote:

tardie wrote:

EXACTLY, it's a sensible safety thing to wear. Like lights!

I have to say, when I see another cyclist without a helmet, I give them I wide berth as they (generally in my experience) are the more dangerous cyclists - shoot up the left of traffic, turning without indicating, stopping without warning, etc.

Sorry about that last bit, but it's true!

What a load of crap. Only yesterday I saw a helmeted cyclist jump a red light. Is it right therefore for me to come to jump to the conclusion that all helmeted cyclists do this ???

From my own experience...the majority of people who I have seen jump read lights were also the non-helmeted lycra brigade. Please be aware that this does not mean ALL...just the majority I have seen with my own eyes.

Using the same rational I can also say...

1. The majority of people I have seen moving slowly on a bike are middle aged women
2. The majority of people I have seen riding wrecklessly on the the pavement are chav-type youths on a £99 Halfords bike...

These are things I have observed and are therefore true...it doesn't mean that it is true in 100% of cases though does it?

BentMikey

tardie wrote:

EXACTLY, it's a sensible safety thing to wear. Like lights!

I have to say, when I see another cyclist without a helmet, I give them I wide berth as they (generally in my experience) are the more dangerous cyclists - shoot up the left of traffic, turning without indicating, stopping without warning, etc.

Sorry about that last bit, but it's true!

You've got this back to front - it's the helmeted riders you should be more worried about. They are the ones 7 times more likely to hit their heads, and the ones likely to be riding at least a little less carefully than the helmeted ones, overall.

From what I've seen it's the helmeted riders who ride like muppets, jumping red lights, etc. Just goes to show how useless anecdote is.

redddraggon

Unfortunately we had a similar thread that went to 22 pages long.

And unfortunately it was me who started it:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... ght=helmet

Adamskii

I came off at 25 mph and landed on my head. I got whiplash from the impact, if I hadn't been wearing a helmet I probably wouldn't be posting this reply.