(Update — Oct. 11, 2006 — The US Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute pokes holes in British study.)
At least in the UK, motorists pass more closely to bicycle riders who wear helmets than they do cyclists who ride without a helmet.
The study by traffic psychologist Ian Walker at the University of Bath found that the average motorist gets 3 inches closer to helmeted cyclists when passing; motorists also pass male cyclists closer than female cyclists.
Walker explained to the Daily Mail:
“The perception is that those wearing helmets are experienced and more predictable. … But that's really quite a dangerous thought, particularly as so many cycling novices are told to wear helmets.”
Walker measured the distances of 2,500 passing cars, trucks and buses with a sensor attached to his bike. While cars passed an average of 4-feet 4-inches from cyclists, trucks shaved 7 1/2 inches off that distance and buses passed 9 inches closer than cars.
In the US, several states, including Washington, require motorists to give cyclists 3 feet of clearance.
The headline writer at the Daily Mail makes the assumption “Helmet wearing cyclists more likely to be knocked down.” That was not researched in the study as far as I could tell and there's nothing to back up the claim that helmeted cyclists are struck more often.
Also, helmet wearing isn't mandatory in the UK. I'd like to see a similar study in the US, where helmet-wearing is more prevalent.
Walker's research will appear in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention at a later date. Here's a press release from University of Bath.
For how to ride safely in traffic, see Michael Bluejay's website — “Bicycle Safety: How not to get hit by cars.”
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