Yesterday a film maker was given some attention for wanting his movie which campaigns against mandatory helmets in Australia to be shown on television. Here is the campaign via YouTube.

Here is the helmetfreedom.org video.

First of all, I am going to make my stance very clear. I do NOT think that mandatory helmet laws in Australia should be abolished. Now I am going to cover each point of this 60 second advertisement (by helmetfreedom.org).

Cycling is not thriving in Australia, Utility cycling has ceased

Really? I’ll go by the example of my hometown Melbourne. I do not have the statistics but according to Bicycle Victoria cycling, both as a method of transport and recreation, has increased dramatically over the past few years. That is clear from just observing the street.

Many of the concerns that are raised in respect to cycling in and around the city have been related to safety, NOT because of the mandatory helmet laws. Where are those from the public realm complaining or rallying against these laws?

Australia’s obesity rate has more than doubled to lead the world

Wow, what a conclusion to draw. I’m pretty sure there are plenty of other things contributing to the obesity rate in Australia, like overeating! Clearly a lack of inactivity and exercise is also a reason, but because of mandatory helmet laws?

Only 2% of nation’s that impose unnecessary mandatory helmets, no difference in injury rates

Where do we get these injury rates from? I know plenty of people, including myself who have hit the ground with a helmet on. When wearing a helmet, the impact against the ground was somewhat minimal, but take away that helmet and my head with the concrete would have resulted in some blood at the very least.

The video footage of people riding the cobbled streets of Europe is hardly indicative of riding in Australia where the streets are overrun with traffic with little space for cyclists let alone strolling pedestrians. This is about cycling culture and our cycling culture requires helmets.

This campaign, it just seems void of logic to me. A bit like introducing government cycling schemes which would clearly be crippled by existing helmet laws (unless they make the scheme exempt. That’s another story). Is this film maker just trying to make his mark?

I don’t like the idea of being a Nanny state and stopping people from making choices but I think the helmet laws are as genuine and neccessary as seatbelt laws and I want all children growing up with helmets as the norm.

No related posts.