General Discussion

Fumesucker

(45,851 posts)

60. Mandatory bicycle helmets are applauded by practically all on DU as being a great idea..

Thu Jun 21, 2012, 10:46 PM

Jun 2012

For the simple reason that they will save somewhat fewer than 600 lives per year.

Mandatory car helmets on the other hand are condemned by a large margin on DU.

The point being that if you want people to get out of the cars and get onto bicycles to commute then mandatory helmets on bikes is exactly the wrong way to go, it makes a graphic point that biking is a dangerous and scary activity. Car driving on the other hand is seen as a safe and risk free activity.

Interesting that my experience is irrelevant while yours is perfectly relevant.

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Mandatory helmet wearing in cars would save many more lives than on motorcycles or bicycles.. [View all] Fumesucker Jun 2012 OP

Satire? Zalatix Jun 2012 #1

Different perspective.. Fumesucker Jun 2012 #15

I think to be really safe we need a helmet that Nuclear Unicorn Jun 2012 #44

Love how people expect others whistler162 Jun 2012 #67

A premise with no underlying, peer-reviewed valid data can only be considered as such. LanternWaste Jun 2012 #38

Only if head injuries were the killer NutmegYankee Jun 2012 #2

+1 nt MADem Jun 2012 #25

If everyone in cars was wearing helmets the death rate would not drop? Fumesucker Jun 2012 #27

You provide no data to support otherwise jberryhill Jun 2012 #29

Ooh.. Doubly fatuous.. Fumesucker Jun 2012 #31

No, and the overall injury rates would go up ProgressiveProfessor Jun 2012 #37

NASCAR has solved that problem with Head and Neck Restraint System FarCenter Jun 2012 #42

It works great for racing, not really practical for the street. ProgressiveProfessor Jun 2012 #62

Sounds like it works great when driving in a circle. NutmegYankee Jun 2012 #64

You'd have to be good with the mirrors....... Mopar151 Jun 2012 #68

The limited head movement is unreasonable for normal driving NutmegYankee Jun 2012 #72

Not really NASCAR;'s solution Mopar151 Jun 2012 #71

That's why airbags are so important. Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2012 #3

I think the OP is right. (But also wrong) cthulu2016 Jun 2012 #9

So the argument for mandatory helmets factors inconvenience? Fumesucker Jun 2012 #14

Because cars have other safety technologies at work. LeftyMom Jun 2012 #18

Are you arguing that mandatory helmets in cars wouldn't save lives? Fumesucker Jun 2012 #20

Mandatory helmets in cars would certainly save lives metalbot Jun 2012 #39

What I said was... cthulu2016 Jun 2012 #19

I wouldn't be surprised if more people are killed indoors than outdoors these days.. Fumesucker Jun 2012 #23

Falls in the home kill more people than cars jberryhill Jun 2012 #30

If you also mandate compulsory use of the HANS device in the vehicle Brother Buzz Jun 2012 #4

full cage and four-point harness frylock Jun 2012 #53

Shit, lets mandate a belt AND suspenders.... Brother Buzz Jun 2012 #56

The way some people drive, B Calm Jun 2012 #5

Yeah, if they were rally drivers. You want to know what would save lives in cars? Seriously? flvegan Jun 2012 #6

Tell me about it.. Fumesucker Jun 2012 #11

It's a shame. flvegan Jun 2012 #13

That looks like a hand, just to the left of the truck's license plate Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #59

Don't think a helmet would have helped much. Meg_Griffin_1 Jun 2012 #69

I would respectfully add... Understand the Rules of the Road. n/t cherokeeprogressive Jun 2012 #22

Brain injuries in cars are mostly caused by sudden deceleration. LeftyMom Jun 2012 #7

Mostly.. Fumesucker Jun 2012 #8

More like "assuming you are driving a reasonably modern car produced in a country with civilized LeftyMom Jun 2012 #10

Would you consider 90% "mostly"? Fumesucker Jun 2012 #12

You have no evidence for your "10% would be saved by a helmet" muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #41

OK, make it 5%.. Fumesucker Jun 2012 #58

Beg to differ cthulu2016 Jun 2012 #16

A helmet would add weight, increasing that whiplike effect. LeftyMom Jun 2012 #17

Have you worn a modern bicycle helmet? Fumesucker Jun 2012 #24

False comparison jberryhill Jun 2012 #32

The way the bicycle is discussed here it's an inherently unsafe vehicle.. Fumesucker Jun 2012 #34

Irrelevant - Do you ride in Denmark or Holland? jberryhill Jun 2012 #57

Mandatory bicycle helmets are applauded by practically all on DU as being a great idea.. Fumesucker Jun 2012 #60

what is the significance of denmark not requiring helmets? HiPointDem Jun 2012 #33

I just think it's interesting that a really bicycle centric culture dismisses helmet use.. Fumesucker Jun 2012 #35

A helmet would not change the deceleration jeff47 Jun 2012 #49

+ billion coup-counter coup. That's the technical name. nadinbrzezinski Jun 2012 #46

Yes, it will cthulu2016 Jun 2012 #47

Not at seventy miles nadinbrzezinski Jun 2012 #48

What are you arguing? cthulu2016 Jun 2012 #54

Ok whatever, have a good day nadinbrzezinski Jun 2012 #55

You are 100% correct! Ignore the clueless! Logical Jun 2012 #21

Helmet laws are not just about saving lives. They're also about reducing... TheMadMonk Jun 2012 #26

Is your point then that additional protection would not help prevent/reduce head trauma? Fumesucker Jun 2012 #28

Under most circumstances not a great deal INSIDE a car. TheMadMonk Jun 2012 #40

Number of cars:number of motorcycles/bicycles =illogical argument REP Jun 2012 #36

We'll lose all 50 states if Democrats support this Ter Jun 2012 #43

I love satire nadinbrzezinski Jun 2012 #45

Lovely assumptions. I'm gonna make my own. jeff47 Jun 2012 #50

I would think that being belted in and having more weight on your head would lead to more..... NCTraveler Jun 2012 #51

"Per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists' risk of a fatal crash is 35 times greater... Skinner Jun 2012 #52

Perhaps I already know that point and I'm trying to make a different point? Fumesucker Jun 2012 #61

Defensive riding and driving, along with attentive riding and driving MineralMan Jun 2012 #63

Calling numbers "high" or "fairly reasonable" is not my idea of "science." CBGLuthier Jun 2012 #65

Setting aside the specific proposal, Vattel Jun 2012 #66

Let's just mandate full body armour B2G Jun 2012 #70