Galway
Cycling Campaign Bulletin 24/2/00
Re: NRA
Study on Seatbelt Wearing Rates
On Wed 23/2/00 the National Roads Authority released a survey on low
seat belt wearing rates among motorists. This is of course
followed by all manner of "shock horror" statements in the
media regarding the failure of motorists to comply with this law and
urging more enforcement. If any bicycle users would like an
alternative view then the GCC submission on the matter is available
here.
http://student.nuigalway.ie/~nash/gcc/safety/Update.htm
By a happy coincidence I was about to post an FOI request to the
government on the same issue. The main issue for cyclists is
that there is good evidence that the main effect of seat belt
legislation is to make the roads more dangerous for cyclists,
pedestrians and and of course car occupants.
regards
Shane Foran M.Sc.
P.S. Re Children : The NRA, the National Safety Council and the
Medical Profession will of course use film footage showing child size
"crash test dummies" bouncing around inside crashing cars.
Unfortunately however the figures show that the introduction of
compulsory seat belt wearing for child passengers in the UK was
accompanied by a 10% increase in deaths and a 12% increase in injuries
among child passengers. Now dont shoot me I am only the messenger, but
rest assured that as with the "cycle helmet initiatives" the
Medical profession and the National Safety Council are
being economical with the truth.
P.P.S. If you want a good general read on the issue start with Prof:
John Adam's text "Risk" (UCL press) which is in the NUIG
library. Apparently the World Health Organisation had commissioned
a review of the issue but then refused to publish it when they saw the
findings. This is not the first time attempts have been made to
supress studies on the issue, the UK Dept of Transport tried to suppress
a similar study during the 1980s.
P.P.P.S. I know you wont see this reported in the media but I dont
think it is a "conspiracy of silence" so much as an
uncomfortable consensus among those journalists (i.e. motorists) who are
in the know.
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