Should bicycle helmets be mandatory for adults?

[stui magpie]

Just a question. I read somewhere recently how some government committee into red tape got a lot of comment on this topic. I also saw the piece on how some woman in the inner suburbs got pinned on ride to work day on her pushie because the helmet strap wasn't done up properly.

I think they should be compulsory for children (defined as under 18 ) but adults can choose whether to wear one or not and it's not a Police issue. If you're old enough to vote, drink, smoke you should be allowed to make your own decision on whether you need a helmet on a cycle.

If the laws were changed I'd expect most of the people who ride the multi gear racing machines in their spandex safari suit would keep wearing helmets but those who treadle their no gears POS with the basket on the handlebars would choose not to. The Bike hire of those blue things in the CBD might get a few more customers.

Thoughts? I think mandating helmets for all is a classic case of over governing and the Police should be freed up of having to worry about crap like this. If someone gets injured in an incident that would have been prevented by a helmet, is that the fault of the government or the person who made the choice to not wear one?

[think positive]

i voted yes

but if no wins, just like bald tyres, no helmet should mean no insurance cover, ie, fine take the chance, but wear the possible consequence

[David]

You could argue that it's somewhat similar to mandatory seatbelts, except for the fact that you can't injure anyone else by not wearing a helmet.

I don't know. It's not against the law to endanger our own safety in many other ways. My thought would be that cyclists should be strongly advised to wear helmets, but that they shouldn't be fined or otherwise punished for not doing so.

I don't necessarily oppose the idea of it still being mandatory for minors, but how would you police such a thing? It's not like seatbelts; an adult may well not be with them at the time. Not sure police should be going around fining children.

[stui magpie]

[Tannin]

[Member 7167]

My son is a mad keen cyclist. He rides to work most days he works in the city and many of his frends ride in a group on weekends. He has completed events such as the Amy Gillett fondo. Earlier this year he took a corner a little too quick on his way home and rolled the rear tyre off the rim. He smashed out one tooth and pushed another three three into the gum but everything is ok now after enduring considerable pain and expending some $9000.

If he wasn't wearing his hemet he may have been killed or he may have received brain damage. I think helmets should be compulsory the same way as seat belts are. You do not see competators in the Tour De France or any other professional races riding without helmet for a good reason.

[stui magpie]

^

Making them non mandatory doesn't mean they're outlawed, people can still wear them if they choose to.

It's not mandatory to wear a helmet on a motorcycle in the USA, but plenty still do.

Also, professional cyclists get up serious speed. To compare them to the average punter on a no gear cycle isn't fair.

Question. Would your son have been wearing a helmet if he didn't have to?

[Wokko]

Once helmets became mandatory, Women pretty much stopped cycling overnight. I think this issue is a good place to draw the line in the sand on nanny state BS, let people do what they decide is right for them.

[Tannin]

[Morrigu]

[HAL]

[think positive]

Well wokko last time I checked I was female and I ride a bike! With a Helmet! I've had one crash, a head on, it was a dirt track, I follow road rules so I pulled left, he pulled right, smash! Same as a car crash, add the speed of both bikes. I saw it coming and braced, he took the worst of it! No major damage!

I've stacked motor bikes, had a beauty on an XR80, my shiny new toy when I was 17. I hit the back whoopee doos and soon discovered the suspension on my new bike was very different to my clapped out xr75. I let the bike go in the end, it summersaulted a couple of times, and I bruised about 75% of my body! Dented my Helmet, I was doing maybe 20-30kph, you can get to that on a no gear push bike with the wind behind you easy. I've also gone over a jump without my horse, knocked out cold for a few minutes, luckily in a cross country riding hat.

If your worried about Helmet hair, stick a scarf under the Helmet.

And Stui, most of the USA have a helmet law (the cops are probably to scared to fine anyone, bikies have bigger guns!)

http://motorbikewriter.com/helmet-or-no-helmet/

Ask Gary bussey what he thinks about the helmet law! Actually, even with nearly dieing I think he said he'd still ride without one! Stupid!

[watt price tully]

Compulsory - of course they should.

The police need to police cars more, some fines for poor car driving - 1 metre rule, door opening causing accidents should be harshly & severely penalised.

Taxi drivers should be fined for just being taxi drivers.

Mothers in 4 large wheel drives driving to & fro school pick up & drop off (mostly private schools) should also be harshly penalised

The above two groups are the worst offenders in my view.

Helmet wearing like seat belts is a (dare I say it) no brainer - civil liberties - my (sufficiently ample) arse.

[Morrigu]

[David]