British neurosurgeon criticizes bike helmets
Summary: Various critics have attacked bike helmet use as unnecessary. They include a British neurosurgeon
whose negative views were first reported in the Telegraph in May, 2014. The latest article repeats old arguments,
cites bogus "studies" and should be approached with the skepticism appropriate for evaluating contrarian arguments.
The
Telegraph reported that London neurosurgeon Henry Marks had said that many of his patients' helmets were too
flimsy to be protective.
It should be evident that he only sees those who are head-injured, so they have been hit hard enough for their helmet to
be overwhelmed by the force of the blow. He has no clue how many others are saved from injury by their helmets and never
show up at his hospital.
The helmets Marks refers to are European standard helmets, much less protective than those that pass the US standard.
Marks cited a study by Dr. Ian Walker of the University of Bath on passing clearances left by car drivers for helmeted
and unhelmeted riders. That research has been thoroughly debunked by us and by a later study. Details are in
our page on the Walker study.
This article has been repeated by others. As long as the media searches out "newsworthy" sources to sell their product,
we will always have contrarian views reported. They should be as carefully evaluated as anything you find on our own
site.