Bicycle helmet laws = bad?

[garote]

"The Dangers of Helmets", a British Medical Journal article arguing against bicycle helmet laws:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7276/1582#SEC4

The basic arguments are:

1. Requiring helmets gives an impression that cycling is more dangerous than walking or driving, this scares off people who would be healthier if they cycled.
2. If a helmet is a legal requirement, people will think that simply having one is adequate, instead of learning how to bike cautiously.
3. Helmets don't actually protect riders (justification provided via a cartload of what is, to my eyes, rather questionable statistical analysis.)

Thoughts?

Comments

[conflictdswitch.livejournal.com]

They made similar arguments about people who drive SUVs or who have airbags in their vehicles. And some studies showed that, yes, they didn't drive as cautious as they should. But those people learned to be cautious when they realized how expensive it was to get into an accident (repairs and insurance). I'm sure bicyclists will learn in a similar manner. It's called Darwinism. 8)

[garote]

Yeah but, you know, what this study is saying is like, "we should not insist on putting airbags in cars, because that will give the impression that you NEED an airbag in a car, because you WILL get into an accident, and that will, like, scare people away from cars and they they won't drive and the whole goddamn economy will collapse!" :D

helmets

[(Anonymous)]

dudes i think u guys need to chill cause when i was a kid i got in a huge accident on my bike with my helmet on. And i still got injured pretty bad and i was bleeding and stuff. I was wearing the hole set and stuff u know like helmet
and nee pads and elbow pads. So the moral is that i looked like sh@$ even though i was wearing the helmet and the pads