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Cycle helmets overview If you're new to the site, read this first.

Risk and cycling
Is cycling risky? How does it compare with other activities? How common is head injury? Safety in Numbers.

Contradictory evidence about cycle helmets 
Ambitious claims are made for cycle helmets, but how do they perform in the real world?
Papers for and against helmet effectiveness.

"A helmet saved my life!"
A common claim by helmet wearers, but is the truth so simple?

FAQ
Do helmets save lives? Is cycling without a helmet foolhardy? ... many more

Helmet laws
Are laws justified? What have they achieved?

Briefings
For legislators
Why helmets don't prevent 85% of head injuries
... more

Health
The health benefits of cycling.
Exceptional life expectancy of cyclists.

Opinion
What are the judgements of experts and the courts?
The BMJ helmet debate

Technical
How helmets work and their limitations

Is it coincidence that the countries with more and safer cycling are where fewest cyclists wear helmets? Is there a connection with obesity?

Topical TRL confirms helmets may increase severity of injuries Our review analyses the findings and takes a wider look at rotational injuries. Safety in numbers High life expectancy confirms low risk in cycling Two sets of evidence that cycling is a low-risk activity which gets safer when more people cycle No evidence of benefit from helmet laws The influential Cochrane Review finds it cannot show that helmet laws lead to a lower risk of head injury. Risk compensation: myth or reality? The authors are not convinced about risk compensation - we look at their analysis. 3 papers in Injury Prevention Evaluate them for yourself! 4 UK reports find little benefit from helmets Misrepresentation of the Canadian experience Conflicting evidence - not only in cycle helmet research

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