The BBC News site always asks for my comments, but they never publish them. They only seem to select comments from deranged left-wing risk-averse party-line-toeing buffoons. I can’t imagine why this is. Anyway, I’ve decided to start publishing my comments myself.
In response to this ‘article’ (which is entirely old hat anyway) and inspired by the stupid comments they published, here is my contribution:
I’ve heard of some horrific head injuries incurred while walking down the street. Trips and falls, and of course muggings and other violence, can even be fatal, and most of these deaths could have been prevented by the wearing of a helmet.
Thus, I always wear a helmet when out walking, and consider anyone who does not to be a fool.
I urge the government to make walking helmets compulsory with immediate effect. The law can be enforced, and fines handed out, by traffic wardens and litter inspection teams – thus no additional staff will be required, and a tidy profit can be made by the local council too.
R Perrin, Climthorpe
Something I forgot to comment on was this:
“It’s plain and simple that helmets are effective,” Ms Lee continues. “If you think of people who have mobile phones, computers, I bet they all have covers on to protect them. You have a skull protecting your brain and if you know anything about computers you know that if you damage a computer you can’t load the programme. That’s exactly the same with your brain.”
Then again, there’s not much to be said in response to that mindless babble is there? Stick the the nursing, love Ms. Believe it or not that quote came from the actual article, not a comment from some passing halfwit.
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There are arguments for and against helmets. I don’t really think they make me any safer on the roads, but off-road, I would wear one by choice. The thing that most often nearly kills me on the road are inconsiderate car drivers and otherwise bad vehicle drivers. Interestingly perhaps, I think another worrying safety device for cyclists are lights. The worrying thing is that these more likely make the rider think they will be seen and not only do drivers still not see cyclists with lights, but sometimes the lights go out in more ways than one and the rider might know nothing about it until it’s too late (okay the risks can be reduced having two lights, but that is beside the point). It’s often safer to be on the other side of the road (like a pedestrian is advised to be). As a cyclist, you are more likely to ride on the wrong side of the road without lights… And the other thing that does my head in is folk complaining about cyclists going through red lights… Yes, sometimes it is wrong, but also sometimes it is the best thing to do, so long as annoyed witnesses do not then take it upon themselves rid themselves of the annoyance once and for all… Okay, that was hopefully my opinionated ranting for the year over and done with. Thank you Mr C for allowing me to vent those particular frustrations, and please forgive me if you think I am encouraging unsafe practice, I am not and whilst I do not enjoy the thrill of nearly being killed by someone else it all too often gets me going in the morning! Please don’t let it be you who kills me or any other innocent yet guilty user of the roads. Now to get on my bike for the ride home. Tally ho!
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