From: news@massey.ac.nz (USENET News System)
Subject: Kevlar vests to be made COMPULSORY for pedestrians in NZ
Reply-To: N.Perry@massey.ac.nz
Organization: School of Maths & Info. Sci., Massey University, Palmerston North, NZ
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 20:51:48 GMT

On Friday it was announced that after an investigation into road
safety that (a) a zero-alchol limit would not be imposed as it was
unrealistic and (b) cyclists would be forced to wear helmets.

Cycling is not an inherently dangerous activity (certain types might
be, such as racing, but general cycling is not). As such people should
not be forced to protect themselves, though if they wish to they may,
as it violates a fundamental principle that people should be protected
from injury by others (or from their own activities). NO OTHER section
of society is forced to protect themselves from injury in this way.

Will such an action reduce the road toll? Maybe, but probably not the
accidents. On Friday I (unusually) came to work by car, whilst driving
down a residential street I was overtaken as I was clearly going too
slow - i.e. 50 Km/h in a 50 Km/h area. Will cycle helmets stop that
driving from being a criminal? Today on the way to work (on my bike as
normal) I approched a pedestrian crossing at which half-a-dozen
children were waiting. I slowed down, and given my high regard for
motoring standards, also pulled OUT towards the centre of the road to
CLEARLY indicate to the vechicles behind that I was stopping IN FRONT
of them to allow the children to cross. The vechicle, with plenty of
stopping distance before the crossing, just pulled out and overtook on
the crossing. Would my wearing a cycle helmet have protected those
children?

(I should point out that I am an experienced London UK cyclist and
have been involved in serious accidents. I do not think people should
not wear helmets [though their protection is not very much and they
give a certain amount of false security]. It is interesting to note
that my 5 year old son never thought of cycling as dangerous when we
lived in London, despite the tales of near disaster and the accidents.
A short while after coming to Palmerston North, a small town of merely
70K compared to the 6M of London and much quieter roads, he decided
that cycling was dangerous after the barrage of propaganda which
results in children wearing helmets when riding around the garden!)

Come on what do you Kiwi's think?

And for the future...

The NZ Government today announced that it would be acting
on the findings of the select committee on the safety of areas
frequented by pedestrians.  From January 1994 all it will become
compulsory for all pedestrians in public areas to wear protective
Kevlar vests, so as to reduce the injuries when they are shot. A
government spokeperson stated "It is highly irresponsibile for people
to involve themselves in dangerous activities without taking suitable
protective measures.  We believe that the compulsory wearing of these
vests will greatly reduce the number of people seriously injured
during armed robberies."
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Dr Nigel Perry                    Email: N.Perry@massey.ac.nz
Department of Computer Science    Tel: +64 6 356 9099 ext 8900
Massey University                 Fax: +64 6 350 5611
Palmerston North
New Zealand