Wiggins clarifies his position after bike tragedy prompts cycle safety call
Improving road safety for cyclists became a major issue today in the wake of Britain’s success in the sport and the tragic death of a cyclist who was knocked down by an official Olympic bus.
The call came as the 28-year-old cyclist who died last night after being hit by a bus carrying journalists near the Olympic park was named by police as Daniel Harris, from Ilford. His death prompted cycling gold medal hero Bradley Wiggins to call for improved safety on the roads.
-
Cycling gold medal hero Bradley Wiggins
Wiggins has clarified his position on the issue of cycling helmets after it was reported today that he had called for the wearing of them to be made compulsory by law.
He tweeted: “Just to confirm I haven’t called for helmets to be made the law as reports suggest.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
“I suggested it may be the way to go to give cyclists more protection legally if involved in an accident.
“I wasn’t on me soap box CALLING, was asked what I thought myopiniondoesntcountformuch’’.
Visitors to thisisleicestershire’s forum page have generally been in favour of calls to make bike helmets compulsory.
Chick7766 posted: “Drivers have to wear seat belts for their own good and motorcyclists have to wear helmets so cyclists should be made to follow at least one safety rule - for their own good.”
MacMonkey74 argues that as a parent it can help to ensure youngsters are protected too: “Making it law would at least mean that children would all have to wear them. I try and make my daughter wear her helmet whenever she is out on her bike but she see's nearly all the other kids around our estate without them and no doubt gets teased for not only looking stupid (in others kids opinions) but also for being a baby (again in the eyes of other kids).”
However, burnmw1987 raises the point that this could be another example of the "nanny state" and says: “To some extent I agree, but another part of me wonders what exactly is happening. Why are we becoming such a "nanny state"? A cup of coffee comes with a warning that the contents "may be hot", and packets of nuts now state "may contain nuts".
Follow the debate here.
Comments
by 4_Stroke
Friday, August 03 2012, 9:22AM
“Quick plot summary, BW got caught off guard and said that everyone else thinks (I watched the interview). He then suffered a huge backlash from his buddies for not being PC when it comes to cycling legislation. Having had time to think about it he then gave a more "correct" version which ties in with his peer group thinking. Even the PM got grilled over this and did not know what to say.
Hundreds of serious head injuries are treated every year at a cost to the NHS. A statistically significant number of child cycling deaths are due to head injury. It is no more "nanny state" than compulsory seat belt legislation.
To try and use the logic that it may put people off cycling, which is the most common argument, is perverse.
The fact that you can also legally use a mobile phone whilst cycling on public roads is also ridiculous.”