This is a very heated debate in the cycling world - should we wear helmets when we go out biking?
Almost all states in the US have mandatory bike helmet laws for children and less so for adults (please note these are state and not federal laws). In Europe laws are a bit more relaxed with Finland and Spain requiring all cyclists to wear helmets, and Croatia, Iceland, Slovenia and Sweden having helmet laws only for children.
But is cycling really that dangerous that it should be required to wear helmets? Data by CTC.org.uk shows us that cycling is actually less dangerous than walking, pedestrians having more accidents than cyclists by a small margin. The number of head injuries is smaller, and the number of traumatic head injuries (injuries that have an effect on the brain) is even smaller. Making cyclists wear helmets would logically mean making the same demands on pedestrians, which suddenly seems ridiculous.
Of course, the pro helmet wearing argument is quite a good one -- it will protect your head from most head injuries, reducing the risk enough to make a difference. It could very well be the difference between going home with a headache or going to the hospital and maybe even dying. And for children under 15 that are involved in accidents that produce head injuries.
However, there are limitations -- some people have noticed that drivers are actually less careful around cyclists that are wearing helmets, passing them closer. The same can be said for the rider; he or she will feel safer thus taking more risks.
As an adult, you have your choice (usually). I for one don't wear a helmet, but I am informed about the risks and I adapt my cycling style to my choice. I am not aggressive in heavy traffic and when things get too dicey I get off the bike and walk for a bit. You should never take a chance with your health, hospitals aren't really that nice!
Almost all states in the US have mandatory bike helmet laws for children and less so for adults (please note these are state and not federal laws). In Europe laws are a bit more relaxed with Finland and Spain requiring all cyclists to wear helmets, and Croatia, Iceland, Slovenia and Sweden having helmet laws only for children.
But is cycling really that dangerous that it should be required to wear helmets? Data by CTC.org.uk shows us that cycling is actually less dangerous than walking, pedestrians having more accidents than cyclists by a small margin. The number of head injuries is smaller, and the number of traumatic head injuries (injuries that have an effect on the brain) is even smaller. Making cyclists wear helmets would logically mean making the same demands on pedestrians, which suddenly seems ridiculous.
Of course, the pro helmet wearing argument is quite a good one -- it will protect your head from most head injuries, reducing the risk enough to make a difference. It could very well be the difference between going home with a headache or going to the hospital and maybe even dying. And for children under 15 that are involved in accidents that produce head injuries.
However, there are limitations -- some people have noticed that drivers are actually less careful around cyclists that are wearing helmets, passing them closer. The same can be said for the rider; he or she will feel safer thus taking more risks.
As an adult, you have your choice (usually). I for one don't wear a helmet, but I am informed about the risks and I adapt my cycling style to my choice. I am not aggressive in heavy traffic and when things get too dicey I get off the bike and walk for a bit. You should never take a chance with your health, hospitals aren't really that nice!
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