Bicycle helmets may kill more than they save.

Another example of the danger of safety: this article in the Pub Med indexed Health Promotion Journal of Australia discusses one of the central dangers of safety: the effect of protecting from one danger may lead to a worse one. Since compulsory bicycle helmet legislation was introduced, cycling rates especially among kids have plummeted. Getting a helmet on is just another barrier to a young kid who wants to go out. Doesn't really fit with a dragstar hoon or a BMX bandit image. So less kids ride. More kids stay at home playing video games, eating chips and getting fat. More diabetes. More heart attacks, strokes and death. After all, these are the great killers in our society far more than bicycle related head injuries.

I disagree with Curnow's assertion that head injuries are worse with helmets than without, reasonably good evidence shows that it is indeed good to wear a helmet. But we should question and examine the possible wider impact of the compulsory nature of this legislation.