🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <aaj8ek$bf7$1@scotsman.ed.ac.uk>, "Eddie Dubourg"
<eddie@ling.ed.ac.uk> wrote:

> "Simon Brooke" <simon@jasmine.org.uk> wrote in message
> news:87helynyh9.fsf@gododdin.internal.jasmine.org.uk...
> > engs0011@ermine.ox.ac.uk (Ian Johnston) writes:
> >
> > > Like the introduction of compulsory cycle helmets in Australia. As
> > > everyone knows, it reduced the serious injury rate by 40%. But it also
> > > reduced cycle use by 40%, so those who continued to ride were as
> > > likely as ever to crash and be injured.
> >
> > Got references for this? Sounds fun!
> 
> Try this - loads of good links...
> 
> http://www.lesberries.co.uk/cycling/cy_helm1.htm


"1995 report found biases in injury data used in previous reports, affecting  
 analysis and results, and suggested that hospital admissions for head
injury in 
 first 4 years was 40% below pre-law trends and that severity of injuries had 
 declined."

 Evaluation of the bicycle helmet law in Victoria during its first four years
   Carr, Skalova, Cameron. Monash University Accident Research Centre 
    Report 76, 1995.

"Bicycle helmets substantially reduce risk of head injury in a crash. Cyclists 
 deaths in Australia have fallen by one half in ten years, most in the years 
 since 1989 (mandatory helmet laws were introduced 1990 to 1992). In Victoria 
 head injuries decreased 48% and 70% in two years after law. In Queensland 
 cyclist head injuries fell by more than half following the law, whilst other 
 bicycle-related injuries remained the same. "

      The effectiveness of bicycle helmets: a review
          Henderson. Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales, 1995.

"Review of mandatory helmet laws in Australia. Greatest effect of law was to 
 discourage cycling. Increase to at least 75% helmet wearing resulted in
decline  
 of only 13% in head injuries, less than decline in cycling. Reduction in head 
 injuries very similar for pedestrians, and possibly due more to speed and 
 drink-driving initiatives than helmets. Helmets for motor vehicle occupants 
 have potential to save 17 times as many deaths as cyclists, without adverse 
 effects of discouraging a heathy mode of transport."

      Head injuries and bicycle helmet laws
       Robinson DL. Accident Analysis and Prevention Vol 28 No 4 pp463-75, 1996.

There appears to be some disagreement over the actual figures. The last report
suggests that the figures in the first two are confounded by the fact that
strict drink-drive/speeding campaigns were underway and that all injuries, 
including those of pedestrians , fell by a similar amount.