It should be compulsory for cyclists to wear Helmets in the UK! As my helmet saved my life.

[krazykiwi]

I was involved in a serious car accident, 3 years ago. It's a day I would remember for the rest of my life. I was a cyclist at 9 in the morning going straight ahead at a intersection in Bristol and a car was coming towards me turning right. It hit my back wheel and flipped me up into the car windscreen breaking glass into my face and cracking C5 in my spine. I was unable to move at all and now have permanent nerve damage down my upper left side of my body including my shoulder,arm,waist and back leaving me in constant agony pain all the time. I'm unable to use my left arm much at all as I cant feel my fingers and have a brain injury. I was recently diagnosed with functional and dissociative neuro symptoms that explains why I have all these horrible problems. I know I'm very lucky to be alive even if I did learn to walk and everything again that I had once learnt before. neurosymptoms.org I have all the symptoms on that list at some point over the last few years. If my spine had cracked another 3mm when my neuro surgeon came to replace my damaged disc with titanium he told us that i would have paralysed or even dead. He was very pleased that it's New Zealand law as New Zealand children growing up there, it was drummed into us that helmets are not fashion accessories they save lives as it did mine. I have spoken to many medical specialists who deal with many road traffic accidents and statistics prove helmets save lives as i know I would rather wear one than not as after all a driver is protected within the car and a cyclist is ready at harms way without the shell of a car so serious damage can happen at any moment without knowing when to a delicate open body. I vote to change the law as it's law in New Zealand with only 4.2 million people less cars on the road and here 60 million people so it's more dangerous as it busier.

[brighton88]

I am very sorry to hear about your accident, a sore point for me being a motorist.

Of course cyclists will come off worse metal on flesh.

A constant frustration for me as a motorist is cyclists who do not wear protective clothing, do not use lights or reflective cover, and refuse to use cycle lanes.

Living in Brighton UK there are cycle lanes on most main roads and cycle routes on many other roads, yet cyclists choose to cycle on the roads weaving in and out of traffic without lights or protective clothing. Often driving in the main route towards the pier I have seen cyclists drive at speed from the cycle lane cutting across the road when they want to turn off rather than follow the cycle lane and turn off. On the unlit coast road, there are cycle lanes but I constantly see cyclists using the duel carriage way taking up a lane and not using lights or wearing protective clothing. I fear not seeing cyclists in time.

The emphasis seems to be on the motorist taking greater care, yet it is a two way learning curve; cyclists must be aware of the dangers to themselves and be responsible in wearing protective wear, lights on their bicycles and most importantly follow the highway code.

I am very sorry to hear about your accident, a lesson for motorists and highway designers, when there is a waiting period at the lights for turning it does avoid road users just moving into a turn rather than maneuver and then look and think.

[bikerlifestyle]

i would be dead if it weren't for my motorcycle helmet

and even when i had a trike i still wore a helmet, even if i was just moving my trike.(you don't have to wear one on a trike)

But i am in favour of freedom of choice, and that helmets should not be compulsory, but if involved in an accident whilst not wearing a helmet, then i feel you know the risk ad have to take some of the responsibility of any outcomes. (the same goes for cyclists)

as i said i am a firm believer in using helmets

living in Birmingham i can say that the Majority of cyclists here are irresponsible on the roads, and the worst offenders by far are the professional cyclists with their helmets and cycling gear.

so whilst safety equipment is important for your own safety, cyclist need to respect the rules of the road if they are to be respected too

[Hidden]

Cyclists should certainly wear helmets but I'd be against a law requiring it, it's personal choice. Laws like that would just discourage people from cycling (and so be just as bad though having more unfit people).

> I constantly see cyclists using the duel carriage way taking up a lane and not using lights or wearing protective clothing

I constantly see cars taking up lanes on dual carriageways with broken lights and no protective clothing.

[Alonso]

My daughter would have been dead had she not been wearing a helmet when she had her accident falling from a horse. I think anyone who has seen the after effects of TBI would agree that helmets save lives and it should just become culture when taking part in anything that involves falling at high speed. Thankfully she has now returned to work and living independently but still struggles with headaches, fatigue, cognitive issues and short term memory problems. xx

[Hidden]

I'm from NZ, CHCH and new here. My brain injury was from a fall at home, Aug 2008.

Back on topic, I remember the Law for compulsory cycle-helmet wear in the pipeline from the late 1980's and it becoming official in 1994. It is automatic kiwi people wear a helmet and from 1990 to 1996, that the increase in helmet-wearing "reduced head injuries by between 24 and 32% in non-motor vehicle crashes, and by 20% in motor vehicle crashes" (Wiki). Many people families and schools welcomed this law. Also, driving and cellphone use is against the law in NZ. This is another life saving law.

I hope everyone is having a comfortable weekend.

Gina.

[krazykiwi]

Ginakiwi Do you live in Bristol? If so maybe we can meet up for a chat and cross reference over both our symptoms of our brain injuries and on how our lives have changed greatly since. I look forward to perhaps meeting you and having another possible New Zealander in Bristol to share my queries with that understands & knows how I feel as you are.

I'm from New Plymouth.

[Hidden]

Hi, I am living in Christchurch. The main fall, first concussion happened due to a black-out and brain injury. Then 4 concussions happened here and there over the next 4 years.

Do you ever often visit home, NZ?

[headwayuk Partner Headway]

Hi krazykiwi,

Thank you for your post highlighting the benefits of cycle helmets. At Headway we also believe that all cyclists should wear helmets, and we have been campaigning for their use for some time.

You can read our position on this issue on our website at headway.org.uk/position-sta...

The page includes a really good appeal by James Cracknell, who sustained a brain injury in a cycling accident in the USA. It also contains some statistics near the bottom of the page which help to back up the case.

Best wishes,

Headway.

[krazykiwi in reply to headwayuk]

Thank you for listening i know how lucky I was and want to keep promoting the cause if i can save other possible cyclists to change their mind so their wouldn't have more very serious injuries.

[brighton88]

sorry to disagree when it comes to safety I am not in favour of freedom of choice

All road users must be following the same set of rules. Where would the A&E be if we went back to having the choice over wearing a seat belt or safety helmet on motor bikes?

[krazykiwi in reply to brighton88]

I agree with you too as I would ''put a piece of cardboard over my head' rather than not wear a helmet as it would protect my head that is the life & soul of my body from any possible unknown dangers. Imagine no seat beats or open shell cars ( like the flintstones) cars passengers would be affected and exposed too, as well as the cyclists. I think it is extremely heroic and brave as medical professionals to deal with people who are hurt from these accidents.

[Jude74]

If my husband was not wearing his helmet whilst up on the Malvern hills I would be writing a very different story. It's going to be a year tomorrow since his accident, it's been a difficult year but me and my daughter still have him , thanks to his helmet