Fast Feelings An experimental study of cycle helmets’ effect on cycling pace and emotional...

Fast Feelings

An experimental study of cycle helmets’ effect on cycling pace and emotional reactions

dr. Aslak Fyhri

Senior researcher

Department of Safety and the Environment

Lack of effects in legislation

Case-control studies show positive effect of helmetLegislation for adults:

AustraliaCanada (British Colombia)New ZealandUSA

Mixed evidenceSome injury reduction, but more for other injuriesReduced cycling

Why do the laws not work?

Risk compensation or population shift?

Risk compensationHelmets make people feel more safe

→ cycle faster

Higher cycling speed → more accidentsPopulation shift

Helmet laws →cycling a hassleNon-committed cyclists disappear

Eager, high-risk cyclists remain

Higher accident risk

Risk compensation involves risk perception (?)

Measuring emotions

Asking is difficult

Psychophysiological measures as indications of mental load (stress)

Differ in immediacy

Galvanic skin response, most common but impractical in field studies (traffic)

Heart rate variability

Less dependent on physical load Easy to measure

Previous study (Phillips, Fyhri and Sagberg 2011)

Differing effects depending on helmet habits

Only routine helmet users cycle faster with helmet

No differences in emotions (heart rate variability) according to helmet use

Not enough control with physical activity

Procedure

Two sites, downhill slopedMakrellbekken (0.9 km)Kongsveien (1.4 km)

“Cycle for 100 meters, then stop pedalling”One hand on the steering!With and without helmet (random assign)

MeasuresSpeedHeart rate variability

Participants(N=27)

College studentsAge 16-46 (mean 22.1)4 male/23 femaleNine regular bicyclists (> 1 t/week)15 routine helmet users (> rarely use)

Results, speed

Accustomed users cycle faster with a helmet, unaccustomed users do not

Results, heart rate variability

Accustomed users are less afraid with a helmet, unaccustomed users are unchanged

Potential long term effects, risk compensation theory

Potential long term effects, population shift theory

Conclusion

The helmet had an effect on cycling speed and on “emotions”

But only for accustomed helmet users“Inverse” risk compensation?

yes, but most likely a transitory situation

Fyhri and Phillips (2012) Emotional reactions to cycle helmet use. Accident Analysis and Prevention in press

Fast Feelings An experimental study of cycle helmets’ effect on cycling pace and emotional...

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