[KarlInOhio]

Any chance the neurosurgeon is suffering from sampling error? Those cyclists who bang their heads but survive without major injury because of a helmet don't see him and similarly those who are killed without helmets don't see him either. Only those who are severely injured but survive, whether they were wearing a helmet or not, get on his patient list. Has he done a statistical analysis of the number of riders, number of riders in accidents and the severity of their injuries outside of those who end up as his patients? Or does he just go by his anecdotal knowledge of his patients.

I'll keep on wearing my helmet while riding.

[LukeL]

My oral surgeon was 100% against me going on a medication because it can cause osteonecrosis of the jaw. The problem was the doctor only saw the tiny fraction of patients who had this rare complication, not the 95-99% who greatly benefit from it.

[Seaplaner]

Any chance the neurosurgeon is suffering from sampling error? Those cyclists who bang their heads but survive without major injury because of a helmet don't see him and similarly those who are killed without helmets don't see him either. Only those who are severely injured but survive, whether they were wearing a helmet or not, get on his patient list. Has he done a statistical analysis of the number of riders, number of riders in accidents and the severity of their injuries outside of those who end up as his patients? Or does he just go by his anecdotal knowledge of his patients.

Nicely stated.

The neurosurgeon's analysis is different from an epi study, which would have taken a large sample size, included reporting bias and other errors.

I focused on the "too flimsy" comment. Flimsy can be good when it comes to impact attenuation.

I will wear my flimsy helmet as well.

.

[cherry]

what I got from the story is that the sight of helmets actually makes drivers less safe, less cautious...thus putting the helmet riders in a more dangerous place...

his thinking is that a driver seeing someone without a helmet will stay farther away...

imo , another point is that helmets, just like on motorcycles, can interfere with hearing and sight and manuverability...maybe just enough so you don't catch the speeding car trying to get around you....

as with all our modern culture, we hold certain beliefs as "sacred" and not to be questioned, ala global warming, ala red meat, ala carbs, gluten,fatty oils, etc...