I agree, and am not trying to change anyone's minds. As I've said before, I wear a helmet almost every time I turn a pedal.

I'm simply trying to point out that people's impressions, as you put it, are a moving target - influenced by a variety of things. In 1974 parents the world over, who loved their kids just as much as todays parents do, felt safe sending their kids out into the street without helmets. Today, you would be threatened with legal action, and looked upon as an unfit parent for doing the EXACT SAME THING.

Given the historical change in our perception of risk I have to wonder if kids twenty years from now will be allowed outside of the house without hermetically-sealed safety suits. Ironically though, with all our concern for safety, we are repeatedly unable to focus on the largest risks. Instead, we focus on the risk that garners the most tv time, results in the biggest lawsuit, or has the biggest lobby(or manufacturer) behind it. Whose going to say otherwise? The entire world runs on the assumption that you spend and increasing amount of money.The accessory market accompanying every primary market assures that the wheels of commerce keep churning.

Sometimes "common sense" is ****.