Media Release

for immediate release - 14 November 2000

Attn: Justice, Transport & Health Reporters

Government Kills Cyclists

This Wednesday “cyclist and defendant” Gregor Campbell is returning yet again to the Dunedin District Court to defend his talent of failing to wear a cyclists’ crash helmet. Mr Campbell is strongly skeptical of the recent television advertisement campaign showing an accident victim dying because he neglected to use his seat-belt.

Mr Campbell today stated “Since the introduction of compulsory seat-belt laws death and injury to all road users due to head injury has been roughly 60%. There is not a single argument in favour of compulsory cycle helmet laws that can not be extended to prevent roughly 300 deaths and 3600 serious injuries a year to motor vehicle drivers.

“In fact it has been estimated that the cost-benefit of compulsory helmet laws in all vehicles would be 17 times that of cyclists alone. Why has this not been seriously proposed?

“Neither has there been a cent spent on educating motor vehicle drivers on cycle safety, as promised by Maurice Williamson [former Minister of Transport] to be complimentary with compulsory helmet laws.

“The ‘good news’ that head injuries have been reduced 20% since the introduction of helmet laws is really an admission of failure. If all injuries to cyclists were head injuries I might be 20% impressed, but there has been no reduction of other injuries to cyclists caused by motor vehicles. I am not 1% impressed.

“Nothing is being done to prevent accidents to cyclists and they are still being killed. Nothing has changed. Those who enforce this dangerous law from the comfort of their patrol cars cannot be part of the solution to cycle safety, merely part of the problem.”

Mr Campbell has recently changed his official occupation to “Subject of Police Harrassment” to reflect his opinion of official response to the wider problem of cycle safety.

Further Information: Gregor Campbell 03-477-0436

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