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@Stonehedge
Just about to contribute a virtually meaningless bit of info to this thread.
Last week I happened to be first(ish) on the scene to four cycle accidents. None of these involved vehicles.
1) Forum member dropping into huge pot hole, very heavy impact with damage to steel bike. No helmet, no head impact...just a few scrapes to elbow and hip. LUCKY.
2) Cyclist riding into back of another cyclist who swerved out whilst talking on her phone. Cyclist on first bike stayed on and rode off. Cyclist who ran into her hit head on floor, was wearing helmet and was fine.
3) Cyclist T-Boned a car turning off road through traffic. I saw car turning from some distance, car was obscured from cyclist by vehicles. I shouted warning, cyclist didn't hear. Cyclist had ipod on. Cyclist head impacted with car, wearing helmet, no major injuries.
4) Cyclist (iPod in, helmet on) jumped red light, looked left, didn't see oncoming car. Car dropped the anchors, cyclist saw car at last minute and swerved out of the way causing her to fall off. Head hit floor, lots of scraping to helmet, no other injuries.
Its not possible to say whether helmet wearing and/or headphone use had any influence on these accidents and thats why this thread is 83 pages long. Read into these as you will but I've started wearing a helmet again and never ride with 'phones in because I know that hearing has saved me from crashes (as a last resort sense) on a few occasions.
One cycle trainer on the forum recently told me "If you are using your hearing, you're doing it wrong". This is bollocks.
If you are relying on your hearing you are doing it wrong. If personally find that hearing what is going around me (including squeaky drivetrains of people undertaking me) supplements my visual awareness from my regular shoulder checks etc.