For or against? There’s a really long thread on the forum about this, but the BMA’s recommendations have prompted the trade website Bikebiz.com to start a petition.
Read the full story at
www.bikebiz.co.uk

Those ‘new’ BMA recommendations
In light of this evidence on 20 October 2004, the Board of the Directorate of Professional Activities of the BMA agreed that the BMA support the introduction of legislation making the wearing of cycle helmets compulsory for both children and adults.

Further, as stated in the 1999 report we strongly recommend that all cyclists wear proper fitting helmets which as a minimum should be certified to the EN 1078 standard, but preferably certified to the Snell B95 standard. It is also important that helmets are replaced after an accident.

This is contrary to the original stance, read the full report here:
www.bma.org.uk

Dr Mayer Hillman has long argued helmet compulsion is “victim blaming.”

“By wearing helmets, cyclists are at best only marginally reducing their chances of being fatally or seriously injured in a collision with a motor vehicle which is the predominant cause of these injuries. Even the most expensive ones provide little protection in these circumstances.

“The primary means of reducing serious head injury among cyclists is to create an environment in which accidents are less likely to occur. Such a strategy based on tackling the source of accidents in which cyclists are involved has far greater scope for reducing head injuries than the questionable benefits of promoting helmet wearing among cyclists.”

To sign the petition go here: Bikebiz.com