It may have been a well intended shout. 90% of bike deaths were of unhelmeted riders. 10% were of helmeted riders.
I don't buy the arguments that govt's need to Nanny Mom their citizens and treat them as children by passing helmet laws. However, bike helmets don't get in the way much and the visor is a nicer sunblock than sunglasses alone. It's all part of the unending risk/benefit assessments we make during life.