Advocacy & Safety - It seems like every report of a bike crash or death...

... mentions whether or not the cyclist was wearing a helmet. Yet, it's rare to see a report on a motor vehicle crash that mentions seat belts. Here's (http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=resources/traffic&id=7392205) a perfect example. As unfortunate as this accident was, the deaths could likely have been prevented, and the occupants' ejections from the vehicle could almost certainly have been prevented, were they wearing seat belts. Yet no mention whatsoever. Typical.

Almost all of the news stories that I see or hear mention whether seat belts were on.

Almost all of the news stories that I see or hear mention whether seat belts were on.

Me too.

Almost all of the news stories that I see or hear mention whether seat belts were on.

Not so much in Philly. It is true, however, that whenever a house fire is reported, the media almost always mentions something about smoke detectors.

well, with all the press going on about deaths being caused by head injuries, and helmets being able to prevent 85% of head injuries (cough, cough ) it's an natural association.

Too bad the conventional wisdom is not only not exactly right, but misleading in what the important factors are to prevent such tragedies.

well, with all the press going on about deaths being caused by head injuries, and helmets being able to prevent 85% of head injuries (cough, cough ) it's an natural association.

Too bad the conventional wisdom is not only not exactly right, but misleading in what the important factors are to prevent such tragedies.

Indeed!!!

It's all part of the safety nanny propaganda machine -- surprised Philly isn't on the bandwagon.

Helmet use (some states require, some don't), smoke detectors (CO & radon, as well), seat belts, air bags, baby seats/booster seats... it's an extension of the movers and shakers trying to herd the rest of us into neat, manageable pens and pastures, (Look up the history of the Pledge of Allegiance, it'll shock you.) like good little sheep.

It's all part of the safety nanny propaganda machine -- surprised Philly isn't on the bandwagon.

Helmet use (some states require, some don't), smoke detectors (CO & radon, as well), seat belts, air bags, baby seats/booster seats... it's an extension of the movers and shakers trying to herd the rest of us into neat, manageable pens and pastures, (Look up the history of the Pledge of Allegiance, it'll shock you.) like good little sheep.
Yeah the damn government is conspiring to keep people alive longer. Bunch of commies telling us we can't throw our own babies out a window!

:twitchy:

Yeah the damn government is conspiring to keep people alive longer. Bunch of commies telling us we can't throw our own babies out a window!

:twitchy:

Oh dear. Don't tell me you're suggesting helmets have made a difference in deaths to cyclists.

If the government wanted people to live longer, they'd get more of them out on bikes more often.

Oh dear. Don't tell me you're suggesting helmets have made a difference in deaths to cyclists.

If the government wanted people to live longer, they'd get more of them out on bikes more often.
Read the post I was replying to. He barely mentioned helmets.

Read the post I was replying to. He barely mentioned helmets.

OK. Maybe I missed something...


It's all part of the safety nanny propaganda machine -- Helmet use...


Yeah the damn government is conspiring to keep people alive longer...


Oh dear. Don't tell me you're suggesting helmets have made a difference in deaths to cyclists...

maybe not?

Seatbelt rage! (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/04/17/ont-seatbelt-rage.html)

OK. Maybe I missed something...

maybe not?

Dude, you missed the best part about the barnyard animals and radon detectors and the Pledge of Allegiance. ;)

... mentions whether or not the cyclist was wearing a helmet. Yet, it's rare to see a report on a motor vehicle crash that mentions seat belts. Here's (http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=resources/traffic&id=7392205) a perfect example. As unfortunate as this accident was, the deaths could likely have been prevented, and the occupants' ejections from the vehicle could almost certainly have been prevented, were they wearing seat belts. Yet no mention whatsoever. Typical.


Almost all of the news stories that I see or hear mention whether seat belts were on.

How do you know that they weren't wearing them and both driver and passenger side seat-belts experienced a catastrophic failure at the same time? I admit that it would be unusual for it to happen, but I would also imagine that it isn't totally unheard of either.

And as Roody said most of the stories I've heard also mention seat-belt usage even if it's in passing.

There was recently an "accident" down here in Florida involving the son of a well known TV personality. His son was and a friend had been at a club drinking (I think that both might have been underage at the time, but I didn't really follow it that well).

The son was driving somewhat recklessly, and ended up crashing his souped up car. His passenger was ejected for not wearing a seat-belt and can't walk now. There followed a rather lengthy trial, the son was in jail, the parents divorced, portions of the father and sons jailhouse conversation were taken and used out of context.

If you ask me in a case like that the passenger who wasn't wearing a seat-belt is also responsible for their injuries. I mean had he been wearing one his injuries probably wouldn't have been as severe as they were. I mean the driver walked away, but not the passenger, and (again) if I remember correctly the driver was wearing a seat-belt.

... mentions whether or not the cyclist was wearing a helmet. Yet, it's rare to see a report on a motor vehicle crash that mentions seat belts. Here's (http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=resources/traffic&id=7392205) a perfect example. As unfortunate as this accident was, the deaths could likely have been prevented, and the occupants' ejections from the vehicle could almost certainly have been prevented, were they wearing seat belts. Yet no mention whatsoever. Typical.

Big deal. Seriously, you're getting into a twist over something as petty as whether news articles state if a helmet was evident?

When faced with a situation such as yours, here is the time proven remedy I employ: Full length mirror. Stand facing the mirror, hands on hip. Brace yourself. Punch yourself repeatedly in the crotch. Move on.

Big deal. Seriously, you're getting into a twist over something as petty as whether news articles state if a helmet was evident?

When faced with a situation such as yours, here is the time proven remedy I employ: Full length mirror. Stand facing the mirror, hands on hip. Brace yourself. Punch yourself repeatedly in the crotch. Move on.

1. Hardly in a twist- just pointing out the obvious, which you seem to have completely missed: there's a difference in how MV and bike crashes (and in particular the use of protective devices) are reported. That's all.

2. I prefer to slap myself in the face- works ever time. Crotch punches are reserved for the really important stuff. :)

Big deal. Seriously, you're getting into a twist over something as petty as whether news articles state if a helmet was evident?

When faced with a situation such as yours, here is the time proven remedy I employ: Full length mirror. Stand facing the mirror, hands on hip. Brace yourself. Punch yourself repeatedly in the crotch. Move on.
Actually, it is a big deal. For one thing there's a lot of controversy about the effectiveness of helmets. For another thing, some people believe that encouraging helmet use portrays cycling as a more dangerous activity than it really is. This perception probably leads to some of the efforts to push cyclists off the streets that we've been seeing lately.

How do you know that they weren't wearing them and both driver and passenger side seat-belts experienced a catastrophic failure at the same time? I admit that it would be unusual for it to happen, but I would also imagine that it isn't totally unheard of either.

And as Roody said most of the stories I've heard also mention seat-belt usage even if it's in passing.

There was recently an "accident" down here in Florida involving the son of a well known TV personality. His son was and a friend had been at a club drinking (I think that both might have been underage at the time, but I didn't really follow it that well).

The son was driving somewhat recklessly, and ended up crashing his souped up car. His passenger was ejected for not wearing a seat-belt and can't walk now. There followed a rather lengthy trial, the son was in jail, the parents divorced, portions of the father and sons jailhouse conversation were taken and used out of context.

If you ask me in a case like that the passenger who wasn't wearing a seat-belt is also responsible for their injuries. I mean had he been wearing one his injuries probably wouldn't have been as severe as they were. I mean the driver walked away, but not the passenger, and (again) if I remember correctly the driver was wearing a seat-belt.

I hear tell the "personality" is back at the old career, too -- does he still put his hand to his ear and then flex for five minutes?

I hear tell the "personality" is back at the old career, too -- does he still put his hand to his ear and then flex for five minutes?

I've seen him as pitchman for a nation wide rental store. And I have it on good authority that he's back in the ring again so who knows maybe he is.

Yeah the damn government is conspiring to keep people alive longer. Bunch of commies telling us we can't throw our own babies out a window!

that's a slippery slope there, and you know it. laws about smoke detectors and seatbelts and such are not directly related to laws against homicide.