Helmet rules change ‘ridiculous’

NEW ZEALAND – A Timaru woman says calls to change compulsory helmet rules are ridiculous, after a helmet saved her husband’s life.

A new cycling lobby group has been formed to stop making it compulsory to wear helmets.

Wade Rollo was cycling last week in a Dunedin cycle lane on Cumberland Street, when a pedestrian stepped in front of him – he couldn’t stop in time and hit the pedestrian.

The fall landed him in Dunedin Hospital with a serious concussion, broken ribs, grazes, a shoulder sprain and damage to his jaw and teeth.

He is now recovering, but his wife, Lara Hearn-Rollo, said it was a $400 helmet that saved her husband’s life.

“These accidents are horrific,” she said.

“I count myself very lucky that Wade is here today and that is because of that helmet.”

It will take weeks, if not months for Wade to fully recover, and Hearn-Rollo said that had a major impact on her family.

However, Hearn-Rollo said that highlighted the importance of wearing a helmet while biking.

The comments come only weeks after cycling group Choice Biking called for a law that requires cyclists to wear a helmet to be changed.

But, Hearn-Rollo said that was ridiculous, and could have deadly consequences.

“A helmet is designed to help prevent serious injuries to your head, you don’t mess around with that and I can’t understand why people would want to take away a safety precaution,” she said.

She also had a direct message for people who walked across cycleways.

“Be aware that there are cyclists around,” she said.

“Wade had a bright orange kit on –his bike is bright orange and yellow – he yelled to try to attract the pedestrian’s attention. You’ve just got to look before you step into a cycleway – it could have been a child.”