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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