None of this is news. No adult is unaware of the risks of biking sans a helmet. I am not understand why someone's hard-earned money had to be usedd for research on the obvious. Same goes for riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
We live (for now) in a country that chooses to treat adults in most instances as just that - adults. If these adults CHOOSE to be stupid, that is their business. As for the "social" cost for such stupidity, eliminating this without a grotesque invasion of privacy and choice (you know, like Obamacare!) is impossible. It's sad that so many have to die, or be permanently injured, but sometimes choices are hell. Decide if being physically safe is more important than being free (however unsafe some may feel this is) and you have your answer on what to do. I prefer to be free, and even to pay for the same with the health care and other costs attributable to others' stupidity, rather than have some ding dong govt. worker tell me what I can "safely" do. Too bad for those who make poor choices, but that is what choice entails - the possibility that some may choose poorly, or even dangerously.
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Jim of MN 8:30AM May 09, 2012