Do cyclists have an exaggerated view of the risks of cycling and the efficacy of cycle helmets?

This paper examines whether cyclists have a realistic appreciation of the effectiveness of cycle helmets, and whether they have a realistic appreciation of the risks of cycling, and whether the two are related. A survey of over 300 cyclists was undertaken to discover the views of cyclists and interviews were also conducted with ten cyclists to explore the subject in more depth. The main conclusion is that the majority of the people surveyed do have an exaggerated opinion of the effectiveness of cycle helmets, and an exaggerated opinion of the risks of cycling, and that the two are associated. These perceptions are likely to be caused by exaggerations in the promotional material for helmets, which exaggerates both the risks of cycling and the effectiveness of helmets. Following on from this, the exaggerations in the promotional material are likely to both prevent some people from cycling because of the fear of the risk, and to induce risk compensatory behaviour in those who chose to cycle and wear a helmet. Given the overwhelming benefits of cycling, helmet promotion is found to be counterproductive in both economic and public health terms.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.transport.uwe.ac.uk/cycling_and_society/candssymp.asp
• Authors:
  • Burton, R
• Conference:
  • Cycling and Society Symposium, 5th, 2008, Bristol, United Kingdom
• Publication Date: 2008-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 12p
• Monograph Title: 5th Cycling and Society Symposium 8th and 9th September 2008, University of the West of England, Bristol

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cyclists; Data collection; Helmets; Highway safety; Publicity; Questionnaires; Risk management
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road safety (human factors)
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ATRI Terms: Cyclist; Helmet; Interview; Publicity; Questionnaire; Risk; Road safety
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01386060
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 22 2012 7:31PM