Australian cyclists wearing helmets might still be at risk of a fine

They have some very odd rules about safety (and other things) that seem to be more about protecting Australian business interests than anything else.

Look on the bright side please. This strong anti-cycling sentiment will help deter Australians from cycling and will help reduce competition for Team GB at the Olympics. Now if only we can get countries like the US and Colombia to introduce more anti-cycling laws, then Team GB will be guaranteed a bigger medal haul in the future!

http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/bicyclists/accred_logos_728x118.jpg

When I have to wear a helmet, being in Australia, I choose to wear a Danish helmet. Now if you think about it, their helmets must be way better than Australian helmets as they have less deaths and head injuries per unit number of cyclists - so obviously their helmets are better, arent they! Its an argument stopper amongst Australian helmet true believers. They look at you with strange blank looks if you argue this because they have to face the unthinkable thought that its not helmets that save Danish cyclists but other things altogether like infrastructure and protective laws.

Australia seems to be regressing? Are we witnessing the first signs of devolution of the human race here? Back to the primordial soup for Bruce & Sheila!

So visiting cyclists - perhaps even international stars attending a race - will have to buy a new helmet instantly upon arrival or be breaking the law? That sounds reasonable.

Imagine the police are delighted to have been given this particularly fulfilling task to perform. Agree with davel that the real risk is ex post facto (mostly ex post injurio) liability avoidance (including by insurers) where helmet fails to have the right sticker. The one thing Australians love more than pointless rules are pointless rules that encourage protectionism (see the Australian retail sector's rearguard action against online shopping, esp the comedy of Gerry Harvey crying poor).

Wow, NSW really does hate cycling.

fenix wrote:

The police are not going to check for stickers. 

Probably not on people just riding around, but a concern is that it'll take victim-blaming to another level in the event of a collision.

"Yes, the deceased was wearing a helmet, but not a certified helmet..."

The argument's completely upside-down.

People are misunderstanding.

You do have to have your helmet for inspection at races - some just do fit, some will look for stickers - but that's pretty unusual.

The police are not going to check for stickers. 

And at a stroke, a black market in safety stickers is created.

The Australian authorities would acheive vastly more for cyclist safety by focusing the driving standards of motorists, rather than helmet safety standards.

I was going to post something about Michael Jackson and his Popcorn but really can't be arsed 

this isn't really about helping cyclists though is it, more about how to make it as hard as possible short of an outright ban. 

Almost completely unenforceable, are the police going to stop every cyclist to check their helmet has the right sticker in it?.