AdamS wrote:...Specifically, does anyone know if data about the proportion of fatalities/ serious head injuries sustained by helmeted cyclists has ever been published for the UK?...
And it would appear that the basic information may be available
mjr wrote:...Helmet-wearing or not is in the casualty variables in police collision reports (STATS19, described by STATS20 2011 Annex 3 section 3.20) but it doesn't appear to be published in the Reported Road Casualties of GB data. You might be able to request it under Freedom of Information, or at least some summary of it...
I don't think it's the kind of thing that anybody is ever going to profit from, people will always have bigger priorities even if there is somebody badgering them to consider it, so waiting for somebody else to do it probably isn't a very productive strategy.
Whilst I tend to think that it might be a worthwhile cause, I can also well imagine that it would be a considerable effort, and that to build a database which also contains enough additional information would only increase the difficulty.
I often feel that the kinds of studies that tend to summarise helmet efficacy (such as those just posted by Steady rider) seem not to include many fatal incidents, yet helmets are considered to be required because they "could save your life." Getting to the point that the kinds of injuries that helmets are preventing are not tending to be fatal ones might be helpful in some way, although I dare say it's all been said before.
Ultimately, we need to bear in mind that most people will read the excellent summary from the BMJ which tells them that even if they do wear a helmet it is unlikely to offer any kind of observable benefit, then choose to wear one because "it can't do any harm can it."