Bike helmets inspire unsafe driving

A researcher from the University of Bath found that helmeted cyclists inspire more dangerous driving from the cars around them — while bareheaded cyclists are treated with the ginger respect due to the suicidal:


Last September a plucky psychologist at the University of Bath in England announced the results of a study in which he played both researcher and guinea pig. An avid cyclist, Ian Walker had heard several complaints from fellow riders that wearing a helmet seemed to result in bike riders receiving far less room to maneuver–effectively increasing the chances of an accident. So, Walker attached ultrasonic sensors to his bike and rode around Bath, allowing 2,300 vehicles to overtake him while he was either helmeted or naked-headed. In the process, he was actually contacted by a truck and a bus, both while helmeted–though, miraculously, he did not fall off his bike either time.

His findings, published in the March 2007 issue of Accident Analysis & Prevention, state that when Walker wore a helmet drivers typically drove an average of 3.35 inches closer to his bike than when his noggin wasn't covered. But, if he wore a wig of long, brown locks–appearing to be a woman from behind–he was granted 2.2 inches more room to ride.

Link

(via Neatorama)

(Creative Commons Attribution licensed bike helmet pic ganked from Hen Power's photostream)