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Cyclists who wear helmets are more likely to be hit by overtaking vehicles, the latest research suggests. Drivers get more than 8cm closer to cyclists wearing helmets than they do to bare-headed riders, because they are seen as being more experienced. Female cyclists are given more room on the road than male riders, according to a survey from the University of Bath. Traffic psychologist Dr Ian Walker used a bicycle fitted with an ultrasonic distance sensor to record data from more than 2,500 overtaking motorists in Salisbury and Bristol. He said drivers were twice as likely to get close to his bicycle when he was wearing the helmet. Dr Walker said: "This was something I had suspected, as many cyclists had told me of similar experiences. The perception is that those wearing helmets are experienced and more predictable." To test another theory, Dr Walker wore a long wig to see if there was any difference in passing distance when vehicles thought they were overtaking a female cyclist. Vehicles gave him an average of 14cm more space when he was wearing the wig. Dr Walker, whose research is to be published in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention, was struck twice during the course of the experiment. The GOS says: Good! either on this site or on the World Wide Web. This site created and maintained by PlainSite |