WELCOME! The Bicycle Helmet Debate: Misconceptions and Common Ground

Transcription

1 WELCOME! The Bicycle Helmet Debate: Misconceptions and Common Ground Dr. Käthi Diethelm, ECF Ceri Woolsgrove, ECF Sue Knaup, One Street Velo-city 2012

2 Agenda 1:30: Introduction & current happenings 2:00: Your Initial Thoughts 2:10: Breakout discussion #1 2:40: Breakout discussion #2 3:10: Your Final Thoughts 3:20: Feedback Exercise & Closing 3:30: End of the Symposium 2

3 Why we organized this symposium The European Cyclists Federation (ECF) Helmet Working Group was started in 2004 when member organizations discovered: Helmet laws taking the place of safer streets Helmet promotions undermining programs to increase bicycling False claims about bicycle helmets causing negative reactions against bicycling The debate is ongoing Discussions being emotional The helmet topic absorbing much energy 3

4 What is happening today? ECF s Helmet Program is helping to move the discussion from reactive to realistic: 4

5 Partners joining the discussion The World Health Organization (WHO) has toned down their aggressive bicycle helmet promotions and added more data. Officials in Italy, Israel and Mexico City have repealed their bicycle helmet laws. Officials in Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Australia are discussing concerns about their bicycle helmet laws. The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) has initiated a three year study of bicycle helmets. 5

6 What is COST? Who: European COoperation in Science and Technology Funded by the European Science Foundation COST has different domains, of which the Transport and Urban Development (TUD) is one What: Allowing the coordination of nationally-funded research on a European level How: COST does not fund research, but facilitates central coordination, through physical group meetings, visits of individual scientists, funding seminars, etc. 6

7 COST Action TU1101: An expert network Towards safer bicycling through optimization of helmet function and usage GOALS: Increase scientific knowledge on cyclist traffic safety specific to the helmet (i) head protection and (ii) accident prevention Establish international research consortiums and attracting international research funding Disseminate old and new knowledge allowing cyclists to maximally benefit from scientific knowledge Run time: Oct Oct We just started 7

8 COST Action TU1101: Working groups 1.A pan-european data-base of accident parameters 2.Attitudes towards bicycle helmets 1. In-depth accident observations and injury statistics 2. Traffic psychology 1.Improving conspicuity of bicyclists 2.Confounding factors associated with helmet use 1.Improved helmet impact standard 2.Improvement of helmet protection capability 3. Impact engineering 4. Ergonomics of thermal aspects 1.Method for assessing comfort of bicycle helmets 2.Guidelines for improved helmet ventilation 8

9 COST Action TU1101: Participation Reimbursement can be offered to EU countries as well as some non-eu countries You can join the Action if you can contribute to achieving the Action s goals Current consortium ECF 5 industrial partners 3 national traffic safety organizations Many internationallyrecognized scientific groups 9

10 Levels of participation COST Action TU1101: Participation and contact Full member: Most EU countries, full reimbursement Visiting member: Any country, no reimbursement Virtual member: Receive the newsletter Action Chair: Dr. Cornelis P (Niels) Bogerd Additional information and participation requests Bogerd@nielsbogerd.com Website Pick up the flyer! 10

11 How this symposium will help We will capture your concerns, ideas and priorities four times: 1. Your Initial Thoughts 2. Your priorities from breakout Topic #1 3. Your priorities from breakout Topic #2 4. Your Final Thoughts 11

12 How this info will be used ECF s Helmet Working Group will use it to prioritize next activities COST Action will consider including it in their Working Groups for discussion You can use it yourself and bring it back to your own community for discussion 12

13 Any questions before we get started? 13

14 1. Your Initial Thoughts What is most important to you in the bicycle helmet debate? 14

15 Topic #1 How do horrifying helmet promotions impact bicycle initiatives? Consider: Your experience. Horrifying images and claims portray cycling as far more dangerous than it is (see picture). The reasons helmet promoters choose these images and claims. Bicycle helmets are only designed for up to 12mph (20km/h) total impact speed and do not prevent internal brain injury. Record your group s top three points. 15

16 Topic #2 Why are helmet laws so easily accepted in some places and fiercely debated in others? Consider: Your experience. Safety is only a part of the overall health evaluation. Helmet laws reduce cycling. Where helmets are common, cycling is rare and crashes are prevalent (see chart). Record your group s top three points. 16

17 4. Your Final Thoughts What else should we include in the results from this symposium? 17

18 Feedback Exercise 1. Did this symposium increase your awareness of the issues around bicycle helmets? 2. Did you benefit from this symposium? Front of the room 1. Yes 1. Yes 2. Yes 2. No 1. No 1. No 2. Yes 2. No Please move to a corner of the room according to the chart 18

19 Next Steps for You Would you like to learn more? Visit the ECF booth here before you leave. Visit ECF s Helmet page Are you not quite sure how to approach this? Consider discussing these concerns with your colleagues. Would you like to get involved? Talk with Ceri Woolsgrove here, at the ECF booth or him at c.woolsgrove@ecf.com 19

20 Thank you for your participation! For more information Ceri Woolsgrove