Actually, there is lots of evidence to prove that Seatbelts save lives. Not just statistical, but crash testing too. I suggest that you look at this site, as it presents the facts very well: www.roadsafetywales.co.uk/press/index.htm Also, try www.thinkseatbelts.comcantypeANDSHOUTS wrote:im sorry you had an accident .im sure you wear cycling at such a great speed that you couldn't brake before going into the side of the car.personally my cycling speed on rm bikes really isnt over i guess 15mph .short of being smacked around the head by a lorry mirror i fail to see how else my head would get injured .when ever i have an accident of any type be it bike(as a child)or skiing its my limbs that I use to break my fall not my head.andy2007 wrote:I suppose you also feel that Motorcyle Helmets are just as useless too, do you?cantypeANDSHOUTS wrote:time for my two penith
its was your mazing union which forced royal mail to provide helmets and hi vis.
once they supply it it is uniform and therefore compulsory..
and all the fantics coming out again sayin you gotta wear it or your an idiot do any of you know how many cycle journeys each year are made by royal mail personal and how many have been put in wheel chairs or died....i thought not
well its a fact that car drivers actually take less care around cyclist wearing helmets .therefore putting you in more danger
the guy who died in gloster and whom the union used to get helmets for you wouldn't have lived if he had a helmets on.nothing short of him being in a tank would have helped
its just more of the same nanny state rules from the labour union idiot
After all, if a Motorcyclist hits a Car at speed, they will probably die too.
We also had similar arguments back in the late 70's and early 80's about Seatbelts. With people citing examples of people surviving crashes because they were thrown clear of the vehicle. Despite the fact that (as History has now proved) more people are saved by Seatbelts, than killed by them.
Personally, I don't know the figures for RM Cyclists killed or injured, as I work in an RDC, where we don't use them. But I would be very surprised (and bitterly dissapointed) if the DO H&S Reps couldn't get access to the info. Such things need to have adequate Risk Assessments, so the figures should be on record. At the very least, from the year when the Helmets were first provided.
I used to do a considerable amount of Cycling, when I was younger. I was also saved from serious injury by my Cycle Helmet, when a car pulled out in front of me. I went over the Handlebars, landed on the Bonnet, and slid to the floor. Apart from some bruising, and a grazed Knee, I was fine. The Helmet of course, had to be replaced, as they are only good for one accident (I assume it's still the same now).
I'm quite sure that if you ask around, you will find many other people with first hand experience of the safety benefits of Cycle Helmets.
As I said a few days ago, I feel very strongly that the use of Cycle Helmets should be a personal choice. However, I still think that people should take the risks seriously, and choose to wear them.
just to give you a thinking point..old Christopher superman reeves was put in a wheel chair by his riding helmet.
having said all that i am one of a very few who actually wear there helmet,and then i only wear it on the main road going too and from my start and finish point.
when that guy in 2000 was killed on his round he wasn't wearing a helmet.so the cwu wanting another way to seem to be doing its best for its members demanded royal mail supply helmets to all.royal mail refused but said that if anyone wanted to wear there own their more than welcome.PERSONAL CHOICE IS WHAT UNIONS AND LABOUR DONT WANT.
complained to government to force royal mail to supply them.hence now part of the uniform as supplied and must be worn.
in conclusion if you have absolutely no road sense you really should think about wearing your helmet.
its your life and your responsibility.
as for death rates as you guys are trying to frighten everyone.
a hundred or so years of deliveries by bikes equals millions apon millions of bike journeys and one guys died
at that rate rm bikes are truley the safest form of travel in the world,much better than planes..
also you cant actually say seatbelts save lives as you cant prove it..nobody knows if they actually save lives you can only speculate that they probably lived cos they had a belt on..they may have lived anyway....just like smoking and drinking.......
Getting back to Cycle Helmets: I wholeheartedly agree, that it shouldn't be compulsary. Also, I never accused anyone of being an idiot for not wearing one. What I said was: not everyone appreciates the risks, and if they still choose not to wear one, despite knowing, and understanding the risks. They should be allowed to refrain from wearing a Helmet. After all, it's their lives.
From a Health and Safety at Work point of view. I can understand RM's position on Helmets. But why can't they provide opt out forms for those who choose not to wear Helmets?
They provide opt out's for the Working Time Directive, which is a Health and Safety matter. So why not Helmets?
But you shouldn't take unneccessary chances.
I have come to realise, from reading the information in this Thread, that I may well be mistaken about the benefits of Cycle Helmets. 
But dodgy Brakes?!?!?! 
