Be careful when transporting fragile goods!
- “There’s No Scientific Data Indicating Helmets Reduce Risk of Injury.” Actually, there is.
But the data is fairly thin, and anti-helmet forces have seized on
this, arguing that the paucity of scientific evidence indicates that
helmets must not really do any good. But this argument suffers from
the negative proof fallacy–the implication that because the efficacy of
helmets has not been conclusively proven via scientific studies,
helmets must be valueless. But consider how many propositions we accept
as true in the absence of any scientific studies proving them so. For
example, I don’t know of any studies proving that ritualistically
slamming my head into the door jamb on the way out every morning leads
to a greater incidence of brain injury. But I needn’t make such demands
on empiricism. I know it’s bad a idea, and I don’t need a
study to tell me that. It’s hardly less intuitive that wrapping one’s
melon in a layer of foam padding will help reduce the severity of
cycling head injuries. Why–particularly given the obvious difficulties
of getting enough scientifically and statistically credible data to
prove or disprove the real world benefit of helmets–should we demand
absolute scientific proof before admitting that wearing a helmet is a
risk-minimizing choice?
Still not convinced? Try a simple thought experiment: You’ve just been doored. As you fly over the handlebars, would you rather be wearing a helmet or not? - “A Helmet May Make Injuries Worse.” Some have pointed out the possibility that helmets have the potential to increase the severity of certain “rotational” injuries–those where the head is jiggled about rather than suffering a direct impact. One glaring problem with this argument is that fact that the anti-helmet lobby runs with it–despite it being based on nothing more than conjecture–while demanding scientific levels of proof of helmet efficacy. But as pointed out above....
Check out the rest of the article at Commuter by Bike
By Josh King, Commuter by Bike, November 29, 2010
