Jonty wrote:Cunobelin wrote:Jonty wrote:I've driven a car for 50 years and never had an accident except when I bumped my head when closing the boot. Why should I have to wear a seat belt? Perhaps I should wear a helmet instead?
jonty
You certainly should, there would be a far greater contribution to Public Health, and a far greater reduction on the burden of head injuries to the NHS if car drivers wore helmets
The evidence also suggests that helmets in cars would be of greater benefit than seatbelts in reducing head injury to vehicle occupants!
Are you sure? What about injuries to other parts of one's anatomy?
jonty
PS
A cycling helmet could protect your hands and knees if your head breaks the fall.
Thank you for raising that point - Injuries to other parts of the anatomy are another feature that links into the decreasing efficiency of helmets, and why their use is not the first recourse if we are to reduce fatalities and head injuries.
The increasing number of SUV / 4x4 / and similar is raising the injury rate. Many of these now impact family vehicles above the safety systems, and this has been reflected in the increase in life threatening femoral and abdominal injuries in vehicles struck by 4x4s. The classic Jeep Cherokee scores nil on the EuroNcap pedestrian safety ratings.
Raises the question......
Your point raises the very important question, should we allow an increasing propensity to cause more serious and life threatening injuries in vehicles?
Should we address this increasing hazard by setting a minimum safety standard for vehicles, or should we suggest that the victims should protect themselves with more and more protective equipment such as helmets?
