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Helmet-wearing cyclists more likely to be knocked down
Last updated at 12:37pm on 11.09.06
A study found cyclists with helmets were more at risk from vehicles
Cyclists who wear helmets are more likely to be hit by overtaking vehicles, new research suggests.
Drivers get more than 8cm closer to cyclists wearing helmets than they do to bare-headed riders, because they are seen as being more experienced. And female cyclists are given more room on the road than male drivers, according to a survey from the University of Bath.
Traffic psychologist Dr Ian Walker used a bicycle fitted with an ultrasonic distance sensor to record data from more than 2,500 overtaking motorists in Salisbury and Bristol.
He said drivers were twice as likely to get close to his bicycle when he was wearing the helmet. Dr Walker said: "This was something I had suspected, as many cyclists had told me of similar experiences. The perception is that those wearing helmets are experienced and more predictable.
"Drivers think, 'He knows what he's doing, he won't do anything surprising'. But that's really quite a dangerous thought, particularly as so many cycling novices are told to wear helmets."
Dr Walker, whose research is to be published in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention, was struck twice during the course of the experiment. Buses and trucks were found to be the worst offenders. While the average car gave cyclists 1.33m of room, the average truck got 19cm closer and the average bus 23cm closer.
To test another theory, Dr Walker wore a long wig to see if there was any difference in passing distance when vehicles thought they were overtaking a female cyclist. Vehicles gave him an average of 14cm more space when he was wearing the wig.
Dr Walker said this may be because women are seen as less predictable than men on the roads, or because female cyclists are more rare and so are treated with more caution.
Dr Walker said he hoped his research would raise awareness of the dangers facing cyclists on busy roads.
More than 11,000 cyclists were injured and 109 killed on UK roads in 2004, the latest year for which figures are available. Overtaking cars are arguably the most dangerous hazards for riders.
Dr Walker said: "We know from research that many drivers see cyclists as a separate subculture to which they don't belong.
"I hope drivers will realise that they are making these assumptions about cyclists based on their appearance. If as a result of this study there were less injuries on the roads, then that would be a wonderful thing."
The research comes as Labour considers plans to make bells compulsory on all bicycles. Cyclists would face on-the-spot penalties and even two years in jail if they did not warn pedestrians of their approach.
Current laws require bells to be fitted on bikes when sold, but owners are free to remove these when they want.
Transport minister Stephen Ladyman has promised to hold a public consultation on the matter, after Liberal Democrat MP Phil Willis raised the issue in Parliament.
Mr Willis said more safeguards were needed to prevent collisions between pedestrians and cyclists. But critics said the proposals would be difficult to enforce
Reader views (3)
From 1970 over a period of ten years, the number of cycle paths in the Netherlands increased from 9,300km (5778 miles) to a staggering 16,100km (9,941 miles), an incredible 73% increase and what was the result? Today over a quarter of all journeys are made by bicycle. In England the cycle network is being put together by a charity for Christ's sake, with little investment from Central government and what's the result? Nationally, a dismal 2% of all journeys are made by bike. Even in the flat lands of Denmark they can't compete, where a respectable 19% use the bicycle for their wanderings.
- Andrew Robertson, London
The solution is obvious: make bicycle helmets look like wigs.
- David Abrami, Orlando, USA
I think that if there was a way of enforcing stiff penalties on drivers who endanger cyclists who I find constantly put my life at risk on the roads things may improve. After all with all these cameras around surely it would not be hard to catch the culprits that endanger my life on a daily bases cycling in London.
- Darren Stevenson, London
