The Independent is joining in now

Kieran_Burns

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 44982.html

Debate on helmet cameras..


and:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 44983.html

The helmet debate

jacknorell

That 'expert' is quite incendiary in his quotes, basically saying that because of helmet cameras, relations between drivers and cyclists are deteriorating.

He needs to learn a bit more about causation, me thinks...

The Rookie

Indeed, it's the idiots (with airzounds and camera's) causing the problem........

Seriously though there is good and bad on BOTH sides, we've all seen helmcam footage from people who appear to be setting up a confrontation just so they can gleefully film it and post it on youtube....and I'll make a point of excluding any vid I've seen from KB in that befores he starts twitching!

Kieran_Burns

The Rookie wrote:

Indeed, it's the idiots (with airzounds and camera's) causing the problem........

Seriously though there is good and bad on BOTH sides, we've all seen helmcam footage from people who appear to be setting up a confrontation just so they can gleefully film it and post it on youtube....and I'll make a point of excluding any vid I've seen from KB in that befores he starts twitching!

<twi...>

damn.

tootsie323

It does paint drivers in a bad light but the truth is that watching good driving and riding habits are not 'newsworthy' so the minority behaviour will be highlighted. It's a bit like saying that whilst air travel is far safer than car travel, it's the air crashes that make the headline news. On the subject of the minority again, there are those who do seem to actively seek confrontation and this is not helpful to the general perception of cyclists by other road users.

As far as helmets go, is it simply a matter of time? I wear my lid when going to / from work and whe I go out for a specific ride, but I leave it behind if I'm just popping out shopping or taking a short trip. I used to be as blasé over seat belts before - and even for a brief period after! - they became compulsury in cars. Hyprocritically, I'll insist on my kids wearing helmets when we go out on the bikes.

bails87

As far as helmets go, is it simply a matter of time?

i don't think so.

There's a small core of people who want to see it mandated but I don't see how it would be a vote winner.

I'd say seatbelts are a different proposition as thousands of people are year were (are) dying in car crashes, and seatbelt compulsion was calculated as saving a thousand lives a year, and 10,000 injuries per year when it was introduced. Helmet compulsion wouldn't have the same certainty in reducing casualties.

That said, the government seem to be pushing on with their pr0n blocker, despite being told by pretty much everyone who's an expert on the subject that it won't work....

asprilla

Also, seat belt laws didn't lead to a reduction in driving whereas helmet laws have done everywhere else. The overall impact on the health of the nation, the economy and the environment is negative.

jacknorell

Back to the cameras topic...

Has anyone else noticed that examples of cr*p driving seem to be fewer when actually using it?

When mine's on, my rides to and from work seem much safer.

I very much doubt drivers notice a Contour camera, a few may recognise a GoPro.

daddy0

jacknorell wrote:

Back to the cameras topic...

Has anyone else noticed that examples of cr*p driving seem to be fewer when actually using it?

When mine's on, my rides to and from work seem much safer.

I very much doubt drivers notice a Contour camera, a few may recognise a GoPro.

Yeah!

I used to wear one, and the day that the SD card ran out of space 200m from work was the day that a WVM ran me off the road and assaulted me 150m from work...

Kieran_Burns

My contour has been noticed - more so when there was that mass publicity a while back. *I* noticed people noticing (so to speak)

SteppenHerring

tootsie323 wrote:

It does paint drivers in a bad light but the truth is that watching good driving and riding habits are not 'newsworthy' so the minority behaviour will be highlighted. It's a bit like saying that whilst air travel is far safer than car travel, it's the air crashes that make the headline news.

Quite. I mean when you're out on the club run do you remember the 100 cars that pass you sensibly or the one impatient tw*nt? Similarly do you think that peds in London remember the vast majority of cyclists that stop at the crossing or the one arrogant bandstand who charges through swearing at grannies?

tootsie323 wrote:

As far as helmets go, is it simply a matter of time? I wear my lid when going to / from work and whe I go out for a specific ride, but I leave it behind if I'm just popping out shopping or taking a short trip. I used to be as blasé over seat belts before - and even for a brief period after! - they became compulsury in cars. Hyprocritically, I'll insist on my kids wearing helmets when we go out on the bikes.

I insist on all but the shortest of rides that my boy wears a helmet. I've told him he can go without when he's reached my milestone of 5,000 miles without crashing. I'm safe so far.

rjsterry

Arguably, when you are just popping to the shops is when a lid is more likely to be of use: familiarity can breed complacency. I do see quite a lot of people with helmets slung over the bars, which seems really bonkers - presumably pretending that they are wearing one to keep a partner happy.

jacknorell

I mostly have other cyclists notice the camera really.

Wish the taxi drivers would!

Agent57

I've never insisted my kids wear helmets. Sure, they had them when they were younger, but if they didn't want to wear it, that was OK. I'm of the mind that trying to wrap 'em up in cotton wool and eliminate any hint of risk from their lives is futile anyway, and realistically the risks of serious head injury are low - especially given they mostly ride on quiet streets and cycleways, not on the cut and thrust of the main thoroughfares. Sure, they might come off. And yes, they might even hit their head. But chances are that it'd just be a cut or a bump, not life as a vegetable.

All in my own opinion of course, and each parent assesses the risks for their own kids and does what they think is best. I was quite surprised that my wife didn't buy into the "must wear a helmet to be safe" idea. Normally I think she's far too over-protective where the kids are concerned (like most mothers, to be fair).