3 ms·

As said above helmet usage is compulsory in NZ (As is yearly warrant of fitness for cars younger than 10 years old and six monthly check-up for cars over 10 yea

As said above helmet usage is compulsory in NZ (As is yearly warrant of fitness for cars younger than 10 years old and six monthly check-up for cars over 10 years old). The five point harness is not the same thing though as you aren't harnessed to a bike. Compulsory seatbelt wearing and air bags are more apt, and these things are currently in place. One thing that is interesting is that compulsory wearing of helmets has not decreased fatalities to any great extent. But if I ever have an accident I am sure glad that I wear one.

dragonwriter 11y ago
> One thing that is interesting is that compulsory wearing of helmets has not decreased fatalities to any great extent. I don't think that's the point: I don't think most bike fatalities are from the kinds of injuries that helmets mitigate. I think the point of helmets is reducing the incidence and severity of a certain class of non-fatal injuries that are experienced without them.
- disordinary 11y ago
  Exactly, if you get hit by a truck a helmet isn't going to do much, but if you go over the bonnet of a car that pulls out without looking then it might mean the difference between a few scrapes and a long stint in hospital.
parennoob 11y ago
> As said above helmet usage is compulsory in NZ (As is yearly warrant of fitness for cars younger than 10 years old and six monthly check-up for cars over 10 years old). Yes, this sounds pretty good. I think the situation on car safety is much better in the EU and other countries compared to the US. > But if I ever have an accident I am sure glad that I wear one. As will I. I do wear a bike helmet a lot. What pisses me off is that I can be fined $100+ for not wearing it when the guy next to me with a car that seems to be running on coal and two tires with questionable pressure goes scot free.
- disordinary 11y ago
  They would be fined for not wearing a seatbelt though.

dragonwriter 11y ago

> One thing that is interesting is that compulsory wearing of helmets has not decreased fatalities to any great extent. I don't think that's the point: I don't think most bike fatalities are from the kinds of injuries that helmets mitigate. I think the point of helmets is reducing the incidence and severity of a certain class of non-fatal injuries that are experienced without them.

disordinary 11y ago
Exactly, if you get hit by a truck a helmet isn't going to do much, but if you go over the bonnet of a car that pulls out without looking then it might mean the difference between a few scrapes and a long stint in hospital.

parennoob 11y ago

> As said above helmet usage is compulsory in NZ (As is yearly warrant of fitness for cars younger than 10 years old and six monthly check-up for cars over 10 years old). Yes, this sounds pretty good. I think the situation on car safety is much better in the EU and other countries compared to the US. > But if I ever have an accident I am sure glad that I wear one. As will I. I do wear a bike helmet a lot. What pisses me off is that I can be fined $100+ for not wearing it when the guy next to me with a car that seems to be running on coal and two tires with questionable pressure goes scot free.

disordinary 11y ago
They would be fined for not wearing a seatbelt though.