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#471
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Helmet Nazis at It Again!
Wolfgang Strobl writes:
snip The widely quoted lore "most*) bicyclists deaths are caused by a brain injury" is a Lie of Omission. In itself, it's true, But it derives its scare from hiding the fact that this statement applies to _all_ traffic deaths, too. In actual fact, it even applies to _all_ accidental deaths. (from the same texbook) about 60 % of all accidental fatalities involve a deadly injury of the brain. Which is completely irrelevant to the question of whether helmets are useful or not (and keep in mind that most bicycle accidents are not fatal, so an argument based on fatalities in this context is really a red herring). -- My real name backwards: nemuaZ lliB |
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#472
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Helmet Nazis at It Again!
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#473
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Helmet Nazis at It Again!
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#474
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Helmet Nazis at It Again!
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#475
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Helmet Nazis at It Again!
Bill Z. wrote: Wolfgang Strobl writes: snip The widely quoted lore "most*) bicyclists deaths are caused by a brain injury" is a Lie of Omission. In itself, it's true, But it derives its scare from hiding the fact that this statement applies to _all_ traffic deaths, too. In actual fact, it even applies to _all_ accidental deaths. (from the same texbook) about 60 % of all accidental fatalities involve a deadly injury of the brain. Which is completely irrelevant to the question of whether helmets are useful or not (and keep in mind that most bicycle accidents are not fatal, so an argument based on fatalities in this context is really a red herring). The point was this: Helmet promotion material often uses a statement like "up to 2/3 of bicycle fatalities involve head injury." This is an attempt to convince people that bicycling produces many more head injuries than other activities. It is an attempt to scare people into wearing helmets. And it's as disingenuous as a political campaign ad. Even if it is true of cycling (and there's doubt), it's equally true of motoring or, indeed, _all_ accidental deaths. So why not push helmets for everybody, all the time? Why wouldn't helmets be "useful" for walking, driving, jogging, jumping rope, etc.? Why make _bicycling_ sound especially dangerous? Hope that helps you remember the point, Bill. ;-) - Frank Krygowski |
#476
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Helmet Nazis at It Again!
On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 11:21:28 +0000, jtaylor wrote:
If so, as cyclists' deaths occur at a rate of roughly one per 450 years of cycling non-stop 24 hours a day (FRA figure), rate of death from head injury must be less than one per 900 years of cycling 24 hours a day (assuming that your "most" = the minimum possible value - 51%). Of these, some small percentage (perhaps as low as zero) of head deaths might have been reduced by cycle helmets to a less serious injury, like permanent vegetative state etcetera. I question the assertion that "permanent vegetative state" is less serious than death. There remains, of course, the probability that additional injuries occur due to the wearing of cycle helmets; and so considering that, how can you claim that helmets are "useful" when the magnitude of the effect they might produce of the death rate of cyclists is essentially zero; and the other effects (reduction of cycling rates, possibility of other trauma, increase in the seriously maimed instead of dead) are negative? Peter |
#477
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Helmet Nazis at It Again!
On Sat, 7 Oct 2006 13:32:05 +0000 (UTC), "Peter Keller"
wrote: On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 11:21:28 +0000, jtaylor wrote: If so, as cyclists' deaths occur at a rate of roughly one per 450 years of cycling non-stop 24 hours a day (FRA figure), rate of death from head injury must be less than one per 900 years of cycling 24 hours a day (assuming that your "most" = the minimum possible value - 51%). Of these, some small percentage (perhaps as low as zero) of head deaths might have been reduced by cycle helmets to a less serious injury, like permanent vegetative state etcetera. I question the assertion that "permanent vegetative state" is less serious than death. Indeed. Certainly from the point of view of public health it adds to the costs resulting from helmet use... There remains, of course, the probability that additional injuries occur due to the wearing of cycle helmets; and so considering that, how can you claim that helmets are "useful" when the magnitude of the effect they might produce of the death rate of cyclists is essentially zero; and the other effects (reduction of cycling rates, possibility of other trauma, increase in the seriously maimed instead of dead) are negative? ....as alluded to above. |
#478
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Helmet Nazis at It Again!
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#480
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Helmet Nazis at It Again!
writes:
On Fri, 06 Oct 2006 23:27:30 GMT, (Bill Z.) wrote: Wolfgang Strobl writes: snip The widely quoted lore "most*) bicyclists deaths are caused by a brain injury" is a Lie of Omission. In itself, it's true, But it derives its scare from hiding the fact that this statement applies to _all_ traffic deaths, too. In actual fact, it even applies to _all_ accidental deaths. (from the same texbook) about 60 % of all accidental fatalities involve a deadly injury of the brain. Which is completely irrelevant to the question of whether helmets are useful or not (and keep in mind that most bicycle accidents are not fatal, so an argument based on fatalities in this context is really a red herring). If so, as cyclists' deaths occur at a rate of roughly one per 450 years of cycling non-stop 24 hours a day (FRA figure), rate of death from head injury must be less than one per 900 years of cycling 24 hours a day (assuming that your "most" = the minimum possible value - 51%). snip So what? A perfectly valid reason to use a helmet is to reduce the time spend recovering from non-fatal head injuries, or (if you are lucky) to avoid a head injury. I.e, you might choose to wear one not to "save your life", but to avoid additional "down time" if you are in an accident. It is a perfectly reasonable choice to make, whether you like it or not. -- My real name backwards: nemuaZ lliB |
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