You are ignoring the side effects of helmet use.[0] Mandatory helmet use is just as bad as mandatory drug administration when helmets can have lethal side effects.
* The mean motorist passing difference being several centimetres smaller for cyclists wearing helmets - increasing the chance of a collision. [1]
* Mandatory (and increased) helmet use correlates strongly with increased rates of cyclist fatalities. [2]
* Strangulation caused by straps around neck on catching helmet. (There is a mandatory legal disclaimer about this on every helmet in the UK)
* Increased risk of head injury due to increased head diameter
* Increased risk taking by the wearer based on reduced percieved risk
* Reduction in number of cyclists and "safety in numbers" due to making cycling a percieved risky activity.
* Diffuse axonal Injury injury caused by increased friction between helmet and tarmac
I personally do wear a helmet because the road conditions in London are made hazardous by motorists.
Helmet campaigns are really just victim blaming. Motorists kill more young people than aids and malaria combined and somehow society is ok with it.[3]
* The mean motorist passing difference being several centimetres smaller for cyclists wearing helmets - increasing the chance of a collision. [1]
* Mandatory (and increased) helmet use correlates strongly with increased rates of cyclist fatalities. [2]
* Strangulation caused by straps around neck on catching helmet. (There is a mandatory legal disclaimer about this on every helmet in the UK)
* Increased risk of head injury due to increased head diameter
* Increased risk taking by the wearer based on reduced percieved risk
* Reduction in number of cyclists and "safety in numbers" due to making cycling a percieved risky activity.
* Diffuse axonal Injury injury caused by increased friction between helmet and tarmac
I personally do wear a helmet because the road conditions in London are made hazardous by motorists.
Helmet campaigns are really just victim blaming. Motorists kill more young people than aids and malaria combined and somehow society is ok with it.[3]
[0] http://www.ecf.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Cycle-helmets.... [1] http://www.drianwalker.com/overtaking/overtakingprobrief.pdf [2] http://lh4.ggpht.com/_PK0EOWvC8YI/TIPM2tGiIDI/AAAAAAAAIDs/Xa... [3] http://m.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/05/road-traffic-...