A Consumer Reports Risk Survey says we’re a nation of reckless idiots with no concern for our safety.  But, heck, why should we be…it’s never our fault, right lawyers?
According to the “nationally representative” survey of 1,000 Americans, only about 58% of people wear helmets when cycling.  Personally I say that’s too small of a sample to include real cyclists, but whatever.  Apparently, most of us (70%) don’t wear hearing protection when mowing the lawn, 27% of us don’t wear sunscreen and about half of us drive more than 10mph over the speed limit on highways.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says helmets were not worn in 92% of bicycle fatalities in 2007, and that helmet use is estimated to reduce risk of head injury by 85%.  The Institute did not say what percentage reduction in harm to cyclists would be achieved if drivers treated cyclists with the respect due any decent human being.
