Alan Braggins said:Do you have a reference to support this - a quick Google
didn't turn up anything. (I believe you, but I'd like to
be able to point other people to something more definite
than "this guy I read on Usenet", like a newspaper report
quoting the coroner.)
Here is the (strongly pro-helmet) local paper's report of
the inquest: thisishampshire.netarchiOpen ↗
ve/2002/10/31/ANDOVER_NEWS_NEWS20ZM.html
Possibly the most ludicrous pretext for a helmet campaign
I've ever seen, but there you go. The campaign seems to
hinge n the idea that having already committed two offences
(defective brakes and riding on the pavement), Troy would
not have committed a third. And that this would have made a
difference (which is controversial to say the least).
Coroner backs bike campaign
====================
DEPUTY central Hampshire coroner Simon Burge has backed the
Andover Advertiser's bike campaign, launched after the death
of schoolboy cyclist Troy Parker. Troy died from serious
head injuries caused when his bike collided with a Smart car
as it attempted to join the A343 from the Greenwich Way
junction just after 7am on 21 May.
He wasn't wearing a helmet and the front brake on his BMX
was broken. At an inquest into the 12-year-old's death on
Wednesday, Mr Burge said while Troy's death was an accident,
certain contributory factors had to be taken into
consideration.
The inquest heard that due to poor visibility and no barrier
at the junction, neither Troy nor car driver Hazel Branston,
(who was only travelling at 15mph) could see each other
until the young cyclist rode out into the road and collided
with the nearside of the car. Mr Burge said: "It seems to me
the local authority should consider making it abundantly
clear the path is for pedestrians only and not for cyclists.
"Or if they acknowledge cyclists have, and will, continue to
use this particular walkway then steps need to be taken as a
matter of urgency to prevent any possible reoccurrence in
the future.
"I have been informed a temporary barrier has been put up
in response to a campaign and I wholly support and
endorse that."
Troy had just left his father's Launcelot Close home and was
on his way back to his mum's Millway Road address to get
ready for school when the accident happened. He died at
Southampton General Hospital eight days after the accident,
which caused a slow bleed on his brain.
After Troy's death, his mother Carlie Annetts made a plea
for all cyclists to wear helmets and the Andover Advertiser
launched its Be Safe, Wear a Helmet Campaign. Mr Burge added
his support at Wednesday's hearing. He said: "As a general
warning to members of the public I think it is appropriate
to stress the importance of ensuring your children do wear
helmets whenever out on a bicycle and that these bikes are
maintained properly.
"The law is very strict when it comes to cars but there are
no laws when it comes to bikes. It is up to owners to
ensure bikes are safe. The consequences at not getting
round to routine maintenance can, and in this case were,
tragic and fatal."
