Bikers Beware: Wearing a Helmet Could Be Dangerous

A one-man study in Britain reports that wearing a helmet while bike riding actually increases the likelihood of getting hit by a car. Using ultrasonic distance sensors, a traffic psychologist at the University of Bath found that cars tend to drive significantly closer to bicyclists wearing helmets than they do to cyclists not wearing helmets. He speculates that drivers perceive bikers with helmets to be more road savvy and predictable. On average, drivers came about 8.5 inches closer to his bike when he wore a helmet. When the researcher disguised himself as a woman, drivers gave about 5 extra inches of space. The study was published in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention.