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I live in NZ we've had helmet laws for a long time. As a teen I had a bad crash. I felt the thud as my helmet hit the concrete then the grind as it slid across
by xupybd 9y ago
I live in NZ we've had helmet laws for a long time. As a teen I had a bad crash. I felt the thud as my helmet hit the concrete then the grind as it slid across the rough road surface. If I'd not been wearing that helmet it would have been my skull left to deal with that initial thud and my face to deal with the friction while sliding along the road. I was pretty banged up but not as badly as I could have been. I was a teen no way I'd have worn a helmet if I wasn't required too.
- xiaoma 9y agoIt's a situation where what's best for one person isn't always the same as what's good for everyone. If they weren't required, there would have been more cyclists, possibly a better separated lane for you and the driver (assuming one was involved) would have been more used to and aware of the importance of sharing the road with those like you. If you're planning on mountain biking or doing certain commutes, it absolutely makes sense to wear a helmet and yet, that doesn't mean that helmet laws are good for the safety of the populace as a whole (and this isn't even getting into 3rd order effects like heart disease in the sedentary, pollution related diseases, etc).
- xupybd 9y agoAgreed. No car was involved, I hit another cyclist. I've added one data point to the discussion, that's about it. But mandating helmets aside, I'd highly recommend wearing one.