The Institute of Advanced Motorists actually comes out with some good research from time to time, and does have some very pro-cyclist stuff in its back catalogue.
They've got a new poll on their site now about the wearing of cycle helmets:
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
NOT restarting the debate - IAM Helmet Poll
(22 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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Hmm that is funny, I don't seem to be able to access the website at all-not just that link. Anyone else having the same problem?
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yeah looks like their dba fails.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yip. I posted here, on another cycling forum, and on Twitter, and managed to kill the site.
Oops.
Posted 14 years ago # -
It's working now.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Lol, I just came on to the forum to post pretty much the op, cheers Anth :-)
Interesting results so far, I have to admit I am curious to see the outcome of this poll. I might have personally worded the questions slightly differently or offered other options but nonetheless a reasonable stab at it.Posted 14 years ago # -
Nice article Liz, the guy with the wig is serious about his research and definitely goes about in the wig. However, I note the date.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Damn! Spotted! A little levity I thought...
Posted 14 years ago # -
The poll seems to be working now (http://www.iam.org.uk/iam_polls/) and there are still a couple of weeks to go...
Posted 14 years ago # -
Their other poll on how to make cycling safer seemed to come to some excellent conclusions viz - adjusting car driving behaviours
Posted 14 years ago # -
Notice how in this poll though, all of the options for how to make cycling safer were all about the cyclist and what they can wear or do to protect themself! Luckily there is an "other" option and a space to write.
Posted 14 years ago # -
s'pose you could answer - Let's all start wearing protective cushioning in the house and outside?
this poll is more specific than the genral cycling safety poll but in the general poll h-mets were seen by approx 2% of respondents as a way of making cycling safer.
reminds me I do need to get a new one....
Posted 14 years ago # -
the results are in -see IAM news release "More than ten per cent of cyclists would give up cycling if wearing helmets was made compulsory, according to the IAM’s latest poll. Only 20 per cent think it should be compulsory.
The poll – which surveyed over 4000 people – also found that another 30 per cent would simply continue to cycle without a helmet."
Posted 14 years ago # -
The rest of the release below for those not inclined to click on the link [cursory look I couldn't find the actual figures]. Apart from the clothing and defensive riding position the rest of the text is broadly the consensus on this forum. Perhaps we are more consensual than other forums with the heated debate etc.
Rest of release as follows -Cycle helmets were not seen as a priority compared to using conspicuous clothing and lights, but nor were the respondents negative in their views towards them. Almost 60 per cent thought that wearing a cycle helmet should be a personal decision. Sixty per cent of those surveyed who cycle, do wear a cycle helmet.
A similar number of people thought that helmets offer limited protection from serious head injury, as think they save lives. Training was high on the agenda, and was rated the second most important cycle safety measure.
IAM cycling manager Duncan Pickering said: “One in ten cyclists being prepared to give up cycling shows how controversial compulsory helmets would be. But generally people are not anti-helmet – they see it as an issue of choice.
“Ultimately fewer than ten per cent voted that they didn’t think wearing a cycle helmet was beneficial at all, so if cyclists feel safer wearing one it makes sense to do so. But cyclists can improve their safety and confidence a lot by taking training. Many accidents involving cyclists could be prevented by cyclists positioning themselves more defensively in relation to larger vehicles.”
Posted 14 years ago # -
so if cyclists feel safer wearing one it makes sense to do so.
I think that line could have been more carefully phrased. Just because people think something is a good idea does not make it a good idea.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Nice point - I was going to pick them up on what I thought was slightly ambiguous phrasing
A similar number of people thought that helmets offer limited protection from serious head injury, as think they save lives.
BUt on re-reading it makes perfect sense.
I am thinking that the answers represent a normal distribution with the bulge in the bell curve being the 'personal choice'. This suggests many of the 4000 took a reasoned view and didn't go off on one. Quite a pleasant surprise. Almost ironic that reasonably reasoned opinion on cycling coming from Inst of Advanced Motoring. All advanced thinkers perhaps? (Operating Thetans Level 8 [following study at sea], Grandmaster Masons with 38 degrees?)
Posted 14 years ago # -
Thetans mess with my Zen thing.
The Dude abides.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Been downloading cds onto Mac. Missing these past 5 years Big Lebowski CD found inside Totally Wired 13 (I had a thing about buying and not listening to Acid Jazz cds - they were a pound or so). Found Big Leb box - opened it, it had a Big Leb Soundtrack cd in it (in shape/style of bowling ball).
Posted 14 years ago # -
GFT will be showing a Bob Dylan movie soon. I don't like him much but the Dude did.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"Almost ironic that reasonably reasoned opinion on cycling coming from Inst of Advanced Motoring."
Though this was an 'open' poll so not just IAM members. Perhaps some CCE members...
Posted 14 years ago # -
"Though this was an 'open' poll so not just IAM members. Perhaps some CCE members... "
The two are not mutually exclusive ;-))
Posted 14 years ago #
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