Keen cyclist Arnold Schwarzenegger has been stopped by police in Victoria for not wearing a helmet, an offence that carries a $146 (£75) fine.
The 67-year-old Terminator star, who uses a bike to get about the cities he visits, was advised by Australian police to visit the nearest 7-Eleven and buy a helmet for $5.
To wear or not to wear, that is the question
Many more people suffer head injuries in cars and the home than while cycling, but few people would advocate compulsory helmet wearing by car drivers or pedestrians.
An increasing number of British cyclists choose to wear helmets, but counter-intuitive as it seems, head injury rates have not decreased as one might expect. Injury rates in countries where very few cyclists wear helmets are amongst the lowest in the world. There is much speculation over why this might be, but the statistics makes a strong argument against any move to make helmet wearing mandatory until thorough research is undertaken. For a detailed analysis of the arguments for and against helmet effectiveness visit Cyclehelmets.org
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.
Barry Baker
I’m pleased to see that the ETA aren’t simply following the crowd in the matter of cycle helmets. I have also consulted the cyclehelmets.org website several times in the past ten years and concluded there is no evidence that helmets make cycling safer. I shall continue to cycle without. Fortunately I live in a country that has not made it illegal to do so.
Dafydd Bebb
Have been cycling for about 70 years. Fallen off a few times in my younger and more adventurous years usually on ice, rushing to work. (fixed wheel racing bikes were then the fashion). have banged elbows and knees, but never head. Many friends cycle but never heard of any head injuries on road bikes. But would strongly recommend helmet for mountain use where rocks and trees are likely to jump out at you.