Citation

Stewart I. Br. Med. J. BMJ 1961; 2(5268): 1714.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1961, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Letters and articles in your journal commend the value of crash helmets and safety straps. A few days ago I saw a string of motor-cyclists, all with crash helmets, travelling through a built-up area at over 60 m.p.h. The following day I was passed by a minicar, driven at, at least, 70 m.p.h. The driver was wearing a safety belt. On each occasion the road was greasy and unsafe. If these safety contraptions are merely going to create the delusion of protection from accident, the end result is going to be even worse than if we did not have them at all. The wearing of an asbestos suit is insufficient reason for strolling about in a burning building.

[Risk compensation. Offsetting behavior.]

Language: en