Friday, April 29, 2016

The carrot and stick approach to govt mandated safety bike helmets


It's coupons for ice cream if the Prince Edward Island (PEI) cops see you with a helmet, and a ticket for a $500 fine or an education session on why nosy do-gooders made the bike helmet law in Canada.

Sure, Canadians are the most polite, but damn, when some intrusive jackass decides what you have to do with your safety passes a law, they strap you to a cannon and lite the fuse.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/bicycle-helmet-enforcement-headway-1.3558294
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/charlottetown-police-didn-t-prioritize-bike-helmet-laws-this-summer-1.3246437
https://www.facebook.com/CBCPEI/?fref=nf

Kim writes: "But making helmets mandatory for bicyclists could backfire: While they no doubt help in a crash, a law about them would also send the message, that bicycling is an inherently dangerous activity. Many years ago in the UK, a study was made about the consequences of making bicycle helmets mandatory. Turned out that it'd cause so many people then not bicycle at all, that the overall health benefits would decline."

4 comments:

  1. I'm comfortable with helmet laws and seat belt laws, but making helmets mandatory for bicyclists could backfire: While they no doubt help in a crash, a law about them would also send the message, that bicycling is an inherently dangerous activity.
    Many years ago in the UK, a study was made about the consequences of making bicycle helmets mandatory. Turned out that it'd cause so many people then not bicycle at all, that the overall health benefits would decline.

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  2. Canada can mandate helmets because they have skin in the game. Canada pays for your injuries through the national health service.

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    Replies
    1. very good point, I had forgotten about that very relevant connection. Does Canada get a pass on legally requiring all its citizens wear steel toe boots at all times for safe foot protection because the country covers medical? Or make it illegal for kids to do stupid things like ride bikes down hills? Or do wheelies?

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