Comments From Transport Minister Also Sparks Discussion Around Safety

Specialist serious injury lawyers have urged cyclists to always put their welfare first as the debate around the issue of wearing helmets rumbled on this week. 

The issue was back in the spotlight after Robert Goodwill, transport minister, suggested at the Conservative Party conference that cyclists should be free to choose whether they should wear a helmet when cycling. 

The transport minister added that the health benefits that cycling offers in terms of heart disease and obesity outweigh the number of people killed and injured while using bicycles. 

He continued to highlight that when enforcing people to wear helmets in Australia, the number of people using cycles decreased, and hinted that if a law was introduced to enforce cyclist to wear helmets, the number of cyclists may fall. 

He added; “I tend not to wear a cycle helmet in London but I do wear a cycle helmet always in Yorkshire;” suggesting the style of cycling indicates whether a helmet is necessary. 

Following the comments, analysis of 37 road deaths involving cyclists conducted by the University College Dublin found that helmets provide “significant protection” against fatal accidents. 

Professor Michael Gilchrist, from the university, recommended wearing helmets when cycling saying: “The results indicate helmets should be worn as they do provide significant protection.” 

Our specialist road traffic accident lawyers have experience helping a wide number of people who have suffered injuries following a cycling accident. Visit our Cycling Accident Claims page for more information.

Jonathan Scarsbrook, partner and serious injury expert from Irwin Mitchell, said;