Cycle helmets should not be compulsory

Stuff reports:

Despite having been the law for almost a quarter of a century, thousands of cyclists are thumbing their nose at wearing a helmet.

Figures provided under the Official Information Act show 29,399 fines have been issued to cyclists for failing to wear their helmet over the past four years.

But the annual number of fines had plummeted steadily over those years, from 11,310 to 4413.

On Saturday, a group of riders will be riding through Wellington in a day of protest against blanket helmet laws.

There is considerable research that not having cycle helmets compulsory increases health outcomes. The health benefits from the many more people who cycle is significantly greater than the increased damage to those who have an accident without a helmet.

Not having helmets compulsory doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still wear one when appropriate. You’re mad if you cycle around Wellington without one, but if you are in say the Wairarapa it is quite reasonable to judge on a quiet rural road you don’t need one.