• Here is Cycling Scotland's helmet position

    Recommendations

    1. Cycle helmets should not be made compulsory now or at any time. It would be arbitrary to impose legislation on cyclists, who do not face clearly higher risks than pedestrians or drivers. Enforced helmet laws drive cycle use down, thereby increasing the risk per cyclist and harming public health. Enforced helmet laws have not effected material prevention of serious head injury at the population level.

    2. A large increase in cycle use should have political and social priority. Increasing cycle use is one of the most effective measures to reduce the risk of death per cyclist, due to the “safety in numbers” effect. It is also “probably the most effective measure” to tackle obesity and lack of physical exercise in general..

    3. Helmet guidelines should be realistic. “Don’t over-predict benefits. Unduly optimistic predictions will hamper injury prevention efforts in the long run”.

    (This may be relevant over the next day or so)

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