LEGISLATION to make it compulsory to wear a helmet while cycling has been introduced by Rugby’s MP in support of a Rugby campaigner who suffered life changing injuries after an accident in his teens.
Mark Pawsey brought forward the Parliamentary Bill in support of Oliver Dibsdale, who was left with a serious brain injury and limited mobility after an accident in 2015, when he was just 15.
Using a 10 Minute Rule Bill, a mechanism by which any MP may introduce a bill, Mr Pawsey brought forward the Road Safety (Cycle Helmets) Bill – using his 10 minute speech to tell Oliver’s story and how the tragic accident changed the course of his life.
Oliver came off his bike in High Street in Hillmorton when his foot slipped off the pedal. Because he had not put his helmet on that morning, Oliver suffered a traumatic brain injury and now requires around-the-clock care.
Mr Pawsey told Parliament that Oliver’s doctor had said that had he been wearing a helmet he may still have been injured, but it would have been a lot less severe.
Oliver said: “My life was all normal until that fateful day, when I didn’t wear a helmet and my foot slipped off the pedal, which could happen to anyone. Now my life is ruined.
“I am doing everything I can to stop other families from going through the same upset and heartbreak mine have been through by spreading the word about how vital head protection is when on a human powered vehicle.
“Although a helmet is not 100 per cent effective, they are responsible for reducing the odds of a face injury by 33 per cent; a head injury by 51 per cent; a serious head injury by 69 per cent; and a fatal head injury by 65 per cent.
“That is why you should make sure you, and any of your friends and relatives wear a helmet.”
Mr Pawsey has supported Oliver’s campaigning for a number of years now and has secured meetings with Ministers in the Department for Transport for Oliver to make his case in person at Westminster. However, the Government has said that it does not intend to introduce legislation to make it mandatory.
Mr Pawsey’s 10 Minute Rule Bill was supported by a number of MPs from both sides of the House, including veteran backbencher Peter Bone, who has also campaigned on this issue.
Speaking after introducing the Bill, Mr Pawsey said: “I first met Oliver at my surgery nearly two years ago and I have been tremendously impressed by his determination and resilience in the face of such a life changing injury. Wearing a cycle helmet is an incredibly simple thing, but many choose not to do so – risking serious harm as Oliver’s story demonstrates.
“Although I appreciate the views of those who think that new legislation would deter cycling or be hard to enforce, Oliver quite rightly points out that other forms of travel on the road have safety legislation, such as the requirement to wear a seatbelt or a ban on using mobile phones whilst driving.
“All of these are important for safety, and with cyclists among the most vulnerable road users, any further steps we can take to prevent a future injury like Oliver’s must be worth it.”
