DEBATING MANDATORY HELMET LAWS – THE UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION IN THE PURSUIT OF SAFE CYCLING
The Amy Gillett Foundation’s sole focus is on actions and policy that help to achieve a safe cycling environment in Australia.
As we have repeatedly stated, while helmets do not make you safer, you are better off when wearing one in the event of a crash.
The current discussion about helmet laws is a distraction from the pursuit of important cyclist safety laws, policy and infrastructure designed to protect cyclists, such as a metre matters laws.
Our primary focus for Victoria remains on securing a metre matter laws, which 9 out of 10 Victorians support.
Victoria remains the only state in Australia yet to commit to minimum passing distance legislation.
For the rest of Australia, the Amy Gillett Foundation, together with Cycling Australia has these five (5) priorities for safe cycling:
- increased education and enforcement of a metre matters laws
- minimum ‘cyclist aware’ content in driver licensing training and testing
- safer cycling infrastructure
- safer speeds
- cycling safety education.
