It is generally appreciated that cyclists are one of the most at risk commuters given the lack of protection afforded to them. Injuries resulting from cyclists colliding with motor vehicles range from minor bumps and scuffs through to severe head and/or spinal injuries, which are life changing.
The most obvious form of protection is the cycle helmet. The use of cycle helmets is usually heralded as the cyclist’s saviour. However, there is another school of thought that perhaps cycle helmets do more harm than good… Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman falls into the camp that educating cyclists over safe road use is equally, if not more, important than the use of a cycle helmet, taking a prevention is better than the cure stand point.
In the Netherlands which is widely acknowledged as the least perilous country for cyclists it is relatively unheard of for cyclists to wear hi-visibility and head protection. In that country it would seem that creating an infrastructure for safe cycling is as important as how an individual rides their bike.
Research in 2001 and 2011 has shown that cycle helmets can reduce the risk of serious head injury by two thirds. It has also been found in research that an increase in the population wearing cycle helmets does not necessarily relate to a drop in serious head injury. Public Health Expert Harry Rutter has been quoted as saying “cycling is a benign activity that often takes place in dangerous environments.” Further recent 2006 and 2013 research shows that cyclists who wear cycle helmets cycle in a more carefree manner than ones who do not wear a helmet the perception being that greater risk can be taken when cycling given the perceived protection given by the wearing of a helmet. The other side of the coin is that the research found that drivers of motor vehicles have a more careless attitude to passing cyclists who were wearing a helmet and that on average the cars passed 8.5cms closer to the cyclist when they were wearing a helmet than when the cyclist was not wearing a helmet.
What we do know is that being knocked off a bicycle at any speed can have devastating effects on the rider and their family.
Our dedicated team of cyclist lawyers may be able to help you if you have had an injury as a result of accident whilst cycling, within the last 3 years. Contact our cyclist lawyers on Freephone: 0808 164 0808 or complete the request a call back form and we will call you.
