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Cycle safety called for
12:01am Friday 1st August 2008
Comments (8)Wiltshire Police are working with a national child cycle safety charity to reward kids spotted wearing a helmet whilst cycling in the county.
The force and the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust (BHIT), launch the scheme today in what is the largest initiative ever run by the charity.
Children will receive instant reward packs containing a puzzle tray or yoyo as well as a bookmark that provides details on the proper fitment of helmets.
The child then has the chance to enter into a national draw for bigger prizes.
The funding for this scheme has come from the winnings of Formula 1 driving ace David Coulthard and his fiance Karen Minier.
Mr Coulthard said: "Karen and I are delighted at the energy and innovative way that the charity has in getting out the important message to children on wearing helmets.
"As a racing driver I am only too aware of the need for helmets and the protection value that they offer and therefore we are delighted that we have been able to contribute to the charity to help them run this great scheme."
Nationally, helmet wearing rates among child cyclists is nearly 45% lower than that of adult cyclists at only 17%, with teenage cyclists even lower at 10%.
BHIT's chief executive and founder Angie Lee said: "The charity has been overwhelmed by the support of police forces throughout the UK and with an estimated 12,000 rewards packs being distributed for the start of Helmet Watch and an estimated further 25,000 packs being rewarded in the next four months this will be a fantastic campaign to help increase helmet use."
She added: "The cooperation and enthusiasm of the police forces shows their commitment in helping to safe guard vulnerable road users and we hope the scheme will offer a positive interface between the police and youngsters."
The Helmet Watch scheme will run in Swindon and Wiltshire between until December 1, taking in two of the highest risk periods for child cyclists; summer holidays and darkening evenings.
Sergeant Simon Garrett from the force's Community Affairs and Diversity Team said: "This is a really exciting initiative, which we are fully supporting.
"Road safety is very important for people of all ages, especially children. This project offers an incentive for young people to wear cycle helmets and to begin thinking and learning about road safety from a young age."
For further information about this project visit www.wiltshire.police.uk or contact BHIT on 0118 958 3585 or at www.bhit.org.
Your Say YourThe Wiltshire Gazette and Herald
allanj, Hampshire says...
8:39am Fri 1 Aug 08
Look at the Netherlands, no silly hats, but an excellent record of safe cycling!
Chippy_14, Chippenham says...
12:30pm Fri 1 Aug 08
worz, Wootton Bassett says...
11:32am Sat 2 Aug 08
Colin Lee, Berkshire says...
4:29pm Sun 3 Aug 08
Let me add that a cycle helmet is as much to do with the well-being of a cyclist as proper training. Mr Chapman forgets that every cyclist is prone to accidents of one kind or another, trained or otherwise. An accident does not distinguish between a trained cyclist or one who is a novice. Are child cyclists not mainly novice cyclists with much to learn about the identification of hazards.
burtthebike, UK says...
5:16pm Mon 4 Aug 08
The BBC reported that Coulthard owns the company, and BHIT have agreed with the Advertising Standards Authority not to use figures which they know to be wrong, but the ASA can't stop them doing so on their website.
One might ask why the original, and accurate posts pointing out these facts have been removed. Perhaps the editor would like to explain why he suppresses free speech? China anyone?
Doug Thegarden, Salisbury says...
11:38pm Mon 4 Aug 08
Headway, the national head injury organisation, has put out an invitation to people who are discouraging the use of cycle helmets to visit one of their centres where such cases are treated to see for themselves the damage a head injury can cause and the impact on life. I think that Mr Guy Chapman and other members who take every opportunity to confuse the message of wearing what is essentially a practical protective device whilst cycling should take up this offer.
Perhaps Colin, while they are there they could visit the much greater number of people with similar head injuries from trips, falls and assaults and car crashes and ask Headway why they are not campaigning for pedestrian and car occupant helmets. If helmets work, pedestrian and car occupant helmets would save many times more lives than cycle helmets.
burtthebike, UK says...
9:53am Tue 5 Aug 08
Headway, the national head injury organisation, has put out an invitation to people who are discouraging the use of cycle helmets to visit one of their centres where such cases are treated to see for themselves the damage a head injury can cause and the impact on life."
I've never met anyone who discourages the use of cycle helmets, perhaps Headway could give us a few names? I've corresponded with a lot of people who want the truth about helmets to be known, and for cyclists to make up their minds about wearing one, based on the facts, not the quite deliberate emotional propaganda put about by BHIT, Coulthard and Headway amongst others, who don't want people to know the truth.
Will Headway also be encouraging people to visit the graves of the many thousand times more people who have died and continue to die early because they don't take exercise?
If Headway claim that cycle helmets are "essentially a practical protective device" they will be able to tell us which countries with a cycle helmet law have been able to show any reduction in risk to cyclists. They won't answer that because the know the answer is none.
Mile for mile, cycling is safer than walking, so why aren't they demanding walking helmets?
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gchapman, Reading says...
12:55am Fri 1 Aug 08
ets.org/index.html