In my brief report about an accident that occurred during a group ride to Metcalfe on Sunday, I observed that the injured rider may have been saved from a serious, or fatal, head injury because he was wearing a helmet. I want to state that this is only my opinion based on my observations of the aftermath of the accident (I did not witness the actual event) including seeing that the rider's helmet was damaged. Did the helmet actually protect the rider? I do not know for certain? Was the helmet damaged as a result of a blow to the rider's head, or did the vehicle which struck the rider run over the helmet? Again, I do not know the answer.
I do know, however, that the rider, travelling at 30 kph, or more, east-bound, was struck a glancing blow by a mini-van travelling in the opposite direction at highway speed. I will let the reader draw their own conclusion about whether or not they would want to be wearing a helmet if faced with a similar situation.
In cycling there are two types of risk: subjective and objective. Every cyclist needs to be sufficiently skilled to control subjective risks, to the best of their abilities, and to recognize the potential of objective risks and take appropriate action to avoid them. Is wearing a helmet a panacea for rider safety. Absolutely not. Is the possession of the learned skills, skills, and more skills, that Avery Burdett calls for, a panacea for rider safety. Absolutely not.
Having said that, informed cyclists will agree, surely, that cycling safety depends to a large extent on the skills, knowledge, experience, and good judgement of all cyclists. Although these four factors, along with head and eye protection, can never eliminate that wholly unpredictable element of chance, in combination they are our best defense.
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