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September 18, 2006
Bike helmets can get you killed
File under: Law of Unintended Consequences. According to a researcher in the U.K., wearing a bike helmet increases your likelihood of being turned into road guacamole.
Drivers pass closer when overtaking cyclists wearing helmets than when overtaking bare-headed cyclists, increasing the risk of a collision, the research has found.
Dr Ian Walker, a traffic psychologist from the University of Bath, used a bicycle fitted with a computer and an ultrasonic distance sensor to record data from over 2,500 overtaking motorists in Salisbury and Bristol.
Dr Walker, who was struck by a bus and a truck in the course of the experiment, spent half the time wearing a cycle helmet and half the time bare-headed. He was wearing the helmet both times he was struck.
He found that drivers were as much as twice as likely to get particularly close to the bicycle when he was wearing the helmet.
Across the board, drivers passed an average of 8.5 cm (3 1/3 inches) closer with the helmet than without
The research has been accepted for publication in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention.
[...]
The study also found that large vehicles, such as buses and trucks, passed considerably closer when overtaking cyclists than cars.
The average car passed 1.33 metres (4.4 feet) away from the bicycle, whereas the average truck got 19 centimetres (7.5 inches) closer and the average bus 23 centimetres (9 inches) closer.
However, there was no evidence of 4x4s (SUVs) getting any closer than ordinary cars.
Previously reported research from the project showed that drivers of white vans overtake cyclists an average 10 centimetres (4 inches) closer than car drivers.
To test another theory, Dr Walker donned a long wig to see whether there was any difference in passing distance when drivers thought they were overtaking what appeared to be a female cyclist.
Whilst wearing the wig, drivers gave him an average of 14 centimetres (5.5 inches) more space when passing.
In future research, Dr Walker hopes to discover whether this was because female riders are seen as less predictable than male riders, or because women are not seen riding bicycles as often as men on the UK’s roads.
Helmets kill; crossdressing saves lives. The mind reels.
Posted by Mike Lief at September 18, 2006 08:06 AM
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Comments
I think it is because they are women riders and you are seeing some chivalry. I try to give ALL bike riders a wide berth because I don't want to hit them. I would rather be late than cause injury or death to a rider.
Posted by: jim at September 18, 2006 08:45 AM
So this wacky dude gets hit by a bus and a car, and he still submits his results for analysis? I'd like to know how many wolf whistles he got with the wig.
Posted by: Vermont Neighbor at September 21, 2006 05:22 PM