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news
White cycle helmetSwiss MPs reject helmet law
Swiss MPs have voted overwhelmingly against making cycling helmets mandatory for children under 14, saying that it was an issue for ‘personal responsibility’.
As part of the debate over road law revisions, MPs voted 136 to 46 against the requirement.
The opposition to the move, made up of representatives from across the political spectrum, noted that 70 per cent of children already wear helmets.
Transport Minister Doris Leuthard disagreed however. She told World Radio Switzerland: “It is not that we think parents won’t pay attention to kids, and thus put this helmet rule in place. Every head injury we can prevent makes this regulation worth it.”
Australia and New Zealand began to implement helmet laws for all cyclists in 1990 and 1994 respectively. A survey in New Zealand earlier this year suggested that helmet requirements had halved the number of cyclists on the road.
Latest Comments
- slc 11 min 8 sec ago
QUB has more than 20,000 students. Those 80 somewhat secure spaces are going to be putting in a lot of work. ...
- RoubaixCube 12 min 19 sec ago
Could it also be that the victim didnt have valid insurance/driving license or M.O.T so didnt report it in fear of themselves being investigated???...
- RoubaixCube 18 min 9 sec ago
You mean they called up one of their friends or family members to stump up the £7 to get it greenlit....
- Keesvant 29 min ago
If the chains snap that is lack of build quality or material.....
- Hirsute 1 hour 24 min ago
"Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good."
- Jaijai 1 hour 49 min ago
His life was only worth shy of 7 years ,that's too lenient in every book .Let alone drugged up and leaving him to die
- webbierwrex 1 hour 54 min ago
I came here to basically write the same thing, the floating bus stop near me has a very narrow cycling lane between a very narrow pavement and a...
- AS52 2 hours 18 min ago
It wasn't an official consultation meeting - see my comment above.
- GMBasix 2 hours 51 min ago
Right, well that could be handy: I'm going round with my baseball bat to have a quiet chat about ownership. You can use their names to see if they...
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12 comments
I remember the three stooges whinging about "stupid laws aimed at motorists" on top gear once whilst driving through Switzerland now reading about this decision regarding cycle helmets I can only conclude that they must be the most sensible people around.
As a Swiss, I have to concur.
I remember the three stooges whinging about "stupid laws aimed at motorists" on top gear once whilst driving through Switzerland now reading about this decision regarding cycle helmets I can only conclude that they must be the most sensible people around.
Cuckoo ...
Do they mandate seatbelts, whether in cars or aircraft?
Seatbelts in cars, but not helmets. Not sure about aircraft.
Good call as it will increase participation...but hemets are still compulsory on our holidays up in the Alps
Another company who don't want my money.
I think it is rather older in most of Europe, including Switzerland - you can't prosecute below 14.
There might of course be a liability falling on the parents, but how would that work? "I told the little blighter to wear his helmet, but does he listen?"
I don't know how the rules stand in Switzerland BUT one of the problems with introducing compulsory helmet laws for children is that it is difficult, or sometimes impossible, to enforce laws against minors. In the UK, anyone under the age of 10 cannot commit a criminal offence. Therefore, if this rule was in place here, you could get a ticket, just tear it up and nothing would happen. Brilliant!
Switzerland, the land of common sense.
And cheese. Don't forget the cheese.