Wearing a Helmet Puts Cyclists at More Risk?
If safety is your number one concern as a cyclist then you might want to think about leaving that helmet at home. A new study by Dr. Ian Walker, a traffic psychologist of the UK, claims that you are more likely to get hit by a car if you are male, and are wearing a helmet.
Dr. Walker conducted a series of tests with a device attached to his bike to determine how much distance cars give cyclists under certain circumstances. The tests included biking with and without a helmet, and wearing a wig to determine if more distance is given to women.
The test results concluded that if you are wearing a helmet, you are generally given less room from passing cars. Likewise if you are female, you are given even more room.
“We know helmets are useful in low-speed falls, and so definitely good for children, but whether they offer any real protection to somebody struck by a car is very controversial,” said Walker when asked whether he recommend cycling without a helmet.
Get more information about Dr. Walker’s study here. [bbc.co.uk]
That’s a great story. Waiting for more.
I find the article rather ridiculous. I would be willing to bet that his results are not reproducible. I also want to know how many times he did each situation. Another factor is that there are other dangers out there on the road other than being hit by a car, for example, a good friend of mine crashed by taking corners too tight on a wet road and I guarentee he was glad that he wore his helmet. Do what you want with your helmet, but I am a male cyclist and I am going to wear my helmet.
My best buddy from high school was hit by an SUV (driven by a local chief of police, nonetheless). When he flipped backwards off the bike and split the shell of his brand new (first ride) helmet up the back he was VERY glad to have been wearing one!
If you have anything up there worth protecting, DO IT WITH A HELMET!!
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