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More than ten per cent of cyclists would give up cycling if wearing helmets was made compulsory, according to the IAM’s latest poll. Only 20 per cent think it should be compulsory.

The poll – which surveyed over 4000 people – also found that another 30 per cent would simply continue to cycle without a helmet.

Cycle helmets were not seen as a priority compared to using conspicuous clothing and lights, but nor were the respondents negative in their views towards them. Almost 60 per cent thought that wearing a cycle helmet should be a personal decision. Sixty per cent of those surveyed who cycle, do wear a cycle helmet.

A similar number of people thought that helmets offer limited protection from serious head injury, as think they save lives. Training was high on the agenda, and was rated the second most important cycle safety measure.

IAM cycling manager Duncan Pickering said: “One in ten cyclists being prepared to give up cycling shows how controversial compulsory helmets would be. But generally people are not anti-helmet – they see it as an issue of choice.

“Ultimately fewer than ten per cent voted that they didn’t think wearing a cycle helmet was beneficial at all, so if cyclists feel safer wearing one it makes sense to do so. But cyclists can improve their safety and confidence a lot by taking training. Many accidents involving cyclists could be prevented by cyclists positioning themselves more defensively in relation to larger vehicles.”