Cycling without a helmet

Madam, – Dublin councillor Andrew Montague’s negative views on the efficacy of bicycle helmets (Home News, September 14th) were unfortunate. There is considerable evidence supporting the use of cycle helmets to reduce the incidence and severity of head injury, to the extent that some jurisdictions around the world have made their use compulsory.

Great credit is due to councillor Montague and Dublin City Council for making Dublin city more bike-friendly, but in promoting a healthier way of travel they should go all the way and promote injury prevention through the use of bicycle helmets.

Many of us who look after injured people on a daily basis have treated cyclists with isolated severe and life-threatening head injuries who would not have sustained such injuries had they worn a helmet. This correspondent and occasional cyclist has been reassured sufficiently by the medical evidence to support any move to make the use of bicycle helmets compulsory by law. – Yours, etc.

CONOR V EGLESTON, 

FRCSI, FRCSM, FCEM, BSc, 

Consultant Emergency 

Medicine, Senior Lecturer, 

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2.