M
Mark McNeill
Guest
http://tinyurl.com/37a5a7
BMA in cycle helmet dispute
Jun 27 2007
by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
THE British Medical Association has resisted attempts to revise its
controversial policy on cycling helmets.
The organisation voted two years ago to campaign for the wearing of
cycle helmets to be made compulsory for all adults and children.
But some doctors claim there is no evidence to support such a policy and
that compelling people to wear =3Funcool=3F helmets could reduce the number
of people who cycle regularly.
Research carried out in Australia has suggested that just 30 more
teenagers wore helmets after they became compulsory, but more than 600
gave up cycling.
Dr Peter Ward, from Gateshead, who led the challenge to BMA policy,
said, =3FCycling without a helmet is healthy and it is safest when more
people are cycling and helmet use is at its lowest =3F Holland and Denmark
have the safest cycling in the world but helmet wearing rates are less
than 1%.=3F
The BMA voted in favour of compulsory helmet use in 2005 as a means of
reducing head injuries among cyclists.
Dr David Sinclair, from Fife, who proposed the original motion, said,
=3FHow many deaths, how many brain-damaged children and how many
casualties do you want before you are convinced about the need for cycle
helmets?=3F
--
Mark, UK
"Without the aid of prejudice and custom, I should not be able to find
my way across the room."
BMA in cycle helmet dispute
Jun 27 2007
by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
THE British Medical Association has resisted attempts to revise its
controversial policy on cycling helmets.
The organisation voted two years ago to campaign for the wearing of
cycle helmets to be made compulsory for all adults and children.
But some doctors claim there is no evidence to support such a policy and
that compelling people to wear =3Funcool=3F helmets could reduce the number
of people who cycle regularly.
Research carried out in Australia has suggested that just 30 more
teenagers wore helmets after they became compulsory, but more than 600
gave up cycling.
Dr Peter Ward, from Gateshead, who led the challenge to BMA policy,
said, =3FCycling without a helmet is healthy and it is safest when more
people are cycling and helmet use is at its lowest =3F Holland and Denmark
have the safest cycling in the world but helmet wearing rates are less
than 1%.=3F
The BMA voted in favour of compulsory helmet use in 2005 as a means of
reducing head injuries among cyclists.
Dr David Sinclair, from Fife, who proposed the original motion, said,
=3FHow many deaths, how many brain-damaged children and how many
casualties do you want before you are convinced about the need for cycle
helmets?=3F
--
Mark, UK
"Without the aid of prejudice and custom, I should not be able to find
my way across the room."