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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8o1eDFCbTk
This add series was aired by a friend on TV in Brisbane recently. :-)
QLD recently had change of government the original nanny state party is gone so there is now a good chance that there could be a change to the helmet laws either to an NT style exemption or complete exemption for all adults.
It is remarkable that at time when we are about to be hit with a CO2 tax and with all the public concern over global warming and the huge burden on the health system of sedentary lifestyle diseases that the most efficient and healthy form of transport has been and is still being discouraged by helmet laws. As a result of this law the predominant type of riders remaining on our roads seem to be lycra wearing men on racers - this would tend to suggest that repealing this law would result in a huge increase in the number of other people riding especially women (the NT has the highest participation of women riders of any state - it is also the only region with a bicycle helmet exemption for adults ).
At the same time there is a lack of any statistical evidence of effacicy of helmet laws in fact their failure and large deterrent effect on cycling is both used as...
- so why are we still burdened with this counter productive nanny state law.
Even though 1500 people die in car accidents yearly car drivers are not forced to wear helmets, in fact the government takes our tax and gives it away to incompetent car companies who cant balance their books. !
http://afr.com/p/opinion/labor_great_car_industry_betrayal_ZSBFO4nK...
The government's bias is clear, in your car it's air-conditioned comfort but ride a bike and you get will get fined if you refuse to wear a sweat box on your head even at low speed or offroad.
The Labor governments poor judgment and steadfast refusal to admit their bias is obvious - it is simply appalling that this law not only results in thousands of innocent people being fined every year, which is at best a waste of police time and resources. It also deters thousands more from cycling in favour of motor cars which are one of the primary sources of pollution including not just C02 but other toxins which can cause health problems for people living near roads. Motor vehicles are also responsible for the great majority of pedestrians killed each year and over 90% of cyclist fatalities.
Whether you personally prefer to wear a helmet or not please show your support for reform and support the right of others to choose for themselves.
Tags: helmets
Replies are closed for this discussion.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sam Young on -
But if the law is having a negative effect on society - say contributing to obesity and pushing people into driving cars for short trips, then don't we have some sort of duty to try and change the law?
Naturally, if the law is not morally suspect, we should abide by it, but this doesn't mean we shouldn't question it. -
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Merrett on -
I don't really care what the law on helmets is - I'll wear one because it makes sense to protect my head.
At some stage I will probably fall off my bike and when that does happen, I'd rather be wearing a helmet.
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Permalink Reply by stephen on -
It's your choice and obviously many people would choose to wear a helmet irrespective of the law. Repealing helmet laws and wearing a bike helmet as you note these are 2 separate issues.
In countries without any helmet laws some people wear helmets. In Australia and NZ the only countries with mandatory all ages bicycle helmet laws (except for the NT ) the actual usage of bike helmets is far from 100% ( from my observations in some places it's well under 50%).
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Permalink Reply by Charles on
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Only a thick head would choose not to wear a bike helmut. But then perhaps thick heads dont need the added protection safety concious cyclists need. On a more serious note, the arguments against bike helmets are rediculous. This is even highlighted in the you tube ad where a child in the background has a helmet on and the mother in the foreground has a gardening hat. This is totally irresponsible and poor role modelling and judgement.
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Permalink Reply by Edward @bikeadelaide on -
Have a think about that comment. Travel to some other countries. You'll be amazed at all of the "thick heads" you see - of all ages. Why is that? How do they all survive without being told when they should wear a helmet? I am still yet to hear any explanation for that.
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Permalink Reply by Charles on
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Yes, but some of those cyclists in other countries have accidents and incur head injuries that may have been avoided or ameliorated had they been wearing a helmet. I really do not understand why some people want to ride a bike without a helmet, it makes no sense. And please don't cite civil liberties, because there are no doubt many laws that could equally be argued impinge on peoples rights to choose that have full support from those same people who are against helmet regulation.
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Permalink Reply by Edward @bikeadelaide on
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They may have been avoided. They may not have. Does that justify a helmet law? Would you advocate an all-ages helmet law in those European countries with high cyclist numbers?
People want to ride a bike without a helmet because they know for themselves whether a helmet is warranted. There are many different types of cycling in the same way that there are many different types of motoring. When you a riding at speed on a racing bike with your head forward, a helmet is probably a good idea and you will choose to wear one. It is a very different thing riding slowly on a sit-up bike with your centre of gravity much further back. If you were to fall off, which is rare, it is physically impossible to fall forward on to your head. In the same way, you would wear a helmet to drive in the Clipsal 500 but not to drive to Woolworths.
You personally might think a helmet should be worn when you're riding any type of bike. Not everyone agrees with you. The question is whether it should be made a crime to ride a bike without a helmet. That is what we have done in this country. The effect of the law was immediate. Cyclist numbers dropped. They have recovered to an extent but only among parts of the population - mainly men. There are still almost no teenage girls for example who cycle regularly.
The law has been a failure. Cyclist numbers reduced and there was no significant change at all in rates of head injuries. Australia is routinely used as an example of why helmet laws should not be introduced. -
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Permalink Reply by Charles on
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You stated that "People want to ride a bike without a helmet because they know for themselves whether a helmet is warranted." What an incredible statement. This suggests, falsely I would suggest, that people always consider their own safety in a rationale and logical manner. I guess then that it is also true that people know for themselves when they are driving too fast, or when it is safe enough to use a mobile phone whilst driving, or when not to wear a seat belt, and of course when a child needs to be restrained in a car child restraint and when it would be ok to sit on mums lap in the front seat like in the 1960's.
You also stated that "it is physically impossible to fall forward on to your head." if you are sitting upright as apposed to riding a road bike bum up head down. Sorry, but this does not make sense as there are as many ways of falling and hitting your head as there are ways to skin a cat, regardless of speed or riding position.
The law is not a failure, it is people who have failed, for the sake of messed up hair dare I suggest, to recognised their own safety needs when cycling.
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Permalink Reply by Edward @bikeadelaide on
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If you accept that cyclist numbers reduced then you have to agree the law was a failure. The societal cost from a drop in cyclist numbers outweighs any perceived benefit. Also, if the laws worked then please explain why there was no corresponding drop in injury rates.
How does the rest of the world manage to get by just fine without bicycle helmet laws? In most cases, they have more people cycling, more of the time and more safely. Not just MAMILs but everyone. How is that? I still do not understand why we are so different from the rest of the world.
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Permalink Reply by Charles on
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Ok Edward, over and out. Luckliy, the laws are there for your safety as well, happy riding.
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Permalink Reply by Edward @bikeadelaide on
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No worries. You too. :)
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Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on -
I see the link between MHL and obesity and sedentary lifestyle diseases has also popped up again in the OP. MHLs don't stop anyone from walking, swimming, jogging, going to the gym, playing squash etc etc etc. Anyone linking MHLs and a lack of opportunity to exercise and keep fit are deluding themselves and clouding the issue.
Linking MHLs to one particular party is also clouding the issue, both major parties have had many opportunities to change the law but neither have taken the plunge.
Personally I choose to wear a helmet, what others choose to do with their heads whilst cycling is of little concern to me but while the anti helmet brigade keep bringing up spurious arguments they will probably never be taken seriously.
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