New research study - ATVs and helmet wearing

[Y Fan Wen]

Completed the survey and hit the submit button and only got a perpetual hourglass!
I left it and went to do something else and found it had worked when I came back.
Can't believe it took so long to submit.

 

[Drirwin]

I've done it.
I don't wear a helmet.
I probably feel most at risk on the road, as the risk will come from another motorist
Our insurers did a big risk assessment last year & said my brother & I didn't need training as we are the business owners, but did say have a helmet & training for family & staff

Thank you!

 

[Drirwin]

Completed the survey and hit the submit button and only got a perpetual hourglass!
I left it and went to do something else and found it had worked when I came back.
Can't believe it took so long to submit.

Oh dear, don’t know what happened there, should submit straight away, fingers crossed it was just a blip!

 

[Dry Rot]

I am old and have never worn a helmet. On the other hand, to my knowledge I have never broken a bone in my body. I attribute that last to (a) being careful, (b) not being stupid, and to (c) being a dyed in the wool coward (which is Nature's way of preventing accidents. They usually hurt, so sensible people avoid them). If everyone wore a helmet, all the time, would they be more or less careful?

This survey is just another incursion of the nanny state into freedom of choice. If I want to kill myself, that's my business. I can think of another old person who doesn't wear helmets, not when riding an ATV (so far as I am aware) but when riding a horse which is a far more dangerous activity. She is, BTW, in her 90s!

 

[DevonianRedneck]

Tbh, having completed the survey, ( there really is nothing good on the telly tonight) the questions are worded extremlly one sided, in that by answering them in any way not "pro helmet", wearing a helmet in my opinion may result in having an otherwise avoidable accident, (from poor visability and sound awareness) although it does minimize the damage from having an accident.

atv safety boils down to common sense and experiance, ive rode a honda "atc" for years in anger, herding stock, pulling trailers etc, and never had a serious accident, but thats because i know the limits of my bike and my own limits as an operator, sadly experiance comes with using the bike and there is an element of risk with that, sometimes you do just have to grab the bull by the horns so to speak, and get on with it.

 

[kiwi pom]

I'm afraid that the results from this survey will be completely biassed.

Most of the 5%? of folk, users or not, who have been brainwashed by all the publicity regarding wearing helmets, will complete the survey and indicate their belief that helmets improve safety.

Most of the other 95% ? who don't wear helmets will be irritated by yet another survey/campaign regarding wearing helmets, will (like me) attempt to complete the survey, but give up in exasperation partway through.

In summary, wearing helmets on bikes is dangerous:

It is inconvenient.

You can't hear.

You can't see.

It is difficult to look behind, and can lead to neck strain.

It might give a false sense of security.

But what do I know. I have been rising bikes on steep and rough hill ground daily for only thirty years, so there might be far more experienced users with converse opinions. But training in riding bikes is vital for inexperienced riders, but only if there is no compulsion to wear a helmet on the training course.

So training is essential for inexperienced riders but they shouldn't wear a helmet while learning?
You sure you didn't bump your head on a tree whilst riding your quad?

 

[DevonianRedneck]

So training is essential for inexperienced riders but they shouldn't wear a helmet while learning?
You sure you didn't bump your head on a tree whilst riding your quad?

Personally i think, a rider should be able to learn without a helmet if that is there preference, its always gonna be a devided matter of opinion, but an atv "course" is very different to using a bike in a working enviroment, a course should be run in a minimal risk enviroment to learn both bike theory and put that theory into practice in a safe enviroment, and tbh if someone had an accident on a course day, then the theory portion was not adequte surely? helmets dont prevent accidents, they prevent the consquences of an accident, an accident that would be avoidable with proper training.

its just my two cents and im completly on board with those who want to wear a helmet if it makes them feel more comfortable, its also my choice not to....because i feel more comfortable and safer without.

 

[Al R]

Sigh, first I am not a student I am a Psychology lecturer with 10+ years of designing, running and publishing surveys (so I am the supervisor) - what is your expertise in survey development? Second, we ask participants to rate the importance of wearing a helmet which gets at exactly what you are suggesting whilst avoiding the difficulties associated with a dichotomous yes/no question from a stats perspective. Third, having two separate surveys, each designed to ask questions linked to the participant's initial thoughts about helmet wearing, would absolutely bias the results (and how would those results even be comparable if the questions were skewed to a yay or nay perspective??). To avoid bias all participants must be asked the same questions, in the same manner, to avoid the question itself biasing the response - the questions have been taken from validated scales used to assess attitudes and behaviours for driving a range of vehicles and adapted to ATVs and thus have around 5 years of data detailing the use of most of the items with multiple populations to ensure reliable responses and clear understanding of the question. In terms of ensuring we get a range of perspectives - thus far (though its early days) we have around 50/50 in terms of folks stating they do, or do not, use a helmet so it would appear that people are willing to take part either way - except you of course. Oh and in terms of being thought through - this survey was developed on the basis of the last 20 years of research on this topic, has been checked over by representatives from farming organisations, farmers and regulators, as well as run though an ethics committee, so I very much resent the suggestion that the research has not been thought through.

To be fair yours are always fantastic with no spelling mistakes although usually safety based, some of the ones students throw up on here are terrible for punctuation!

This was certainly one of the more long winded ones you’ve done but I’m sure there was a good reason.
Keep up the good work Dr Irwin.

 

[Fendt516profi]

Wearing a helmet is a animal welfare issue, I was once riding round a field when I heard a faint bleet of a lamb stopped the bike listened got off and dug it out of snow drift took it home warmed it up and put it back with it mother. If I'd been wearing a helmet the first time I'd of known where that lambs was would of been when snow melted and it would of been dead

 

[Generally01]

I am old and have never worn a helmet. On the other hand, to my knowledge I have never broken a bone in my body. I attribute that last to (a) being careful, (b) not being stupid, and to (c) being a dyed in the wool coward (which is Nature's way of preventing accidents. They usually hurt, so sensible people avoid them). If everyone wore a helmet, all the time, would they be more or less careful?

This survey is just another incursion of the nanny state into freedom of choice. If I want to kill myself, that's my business. I can think of another old person who doesn't wear helmets, not when riding an ATV (so far as I am aware) but when riding a horse which is a far more dangerous activity. She is, BTW, in her 90s!

Totally agree!
I never could see why people wore helmets on the hardest part of their head, the neck is way easier to get broken/hacked, of course this varies from person to person(some people have soft heads), personally i don't wear a helmet it makes my head super clumsy and to be honest, i think chances i would get killed would go up 70% if i were to wear one.

 

[kiwi pom]

I think its compulsory here, it certainly is for employees. Of course you'd take some spotting in some areas but there have been some big fines handed out.
A lot of dairy farms round here have staff wearing helmets on 2 and 4 wheelers.

 

[Drirwin]

Thanks all who have completed regardless of your opinion on helmets - there are items that allow you to indicate if you think training / driving expertise trump helmet wearing e.g ‘it’s more important to drive carefully than wear a helmet’ and other items that refer to hearing, comfort etc - those items are designed to tap into what you are saying regarding reasons for not wearing, plus of course all the open ended questions allow you to share exactly why you do or do not wear a helmet. I really appreciate all the help, and hope more folk continue to take part over the next few days

 

[Drirwin]

To be fair yours are always fantastic with no spelling mistakes although usually safety based, some of the ones students throw up on here are terrible for punctuation!

This was certainly one of the more long winded ones you’ve done but I’m sure there was a good reason.
Keep up the good work Dr Irwin.

Yes it is a tad longer than I usually aim for - but it’s such a complex issue - thanks so much for take by the time to complete it, much appreciated!

 

[Loftyrules]

Wearing a helmet is a animal welfare issue, I was once riding round a field when I heard a faint bleet of a lamb stopped the bike listened got off and dug it out of snow drift took it home warmed it up and put it back with it mother. If I'd been wearing a helmet the first time I'd of known where that lambs was would of been when snow melted and it would of been dead

The Logic ones don’t cover your ears

 

[Loftyrules]

I am old and have never worn a helmet. On the other hand, to my knowledge I have never broken a bone in my body. I attribute that last to (a) being careful, (b) not being stupid, and to (c) being a dyed in the wool coward (which is Nature's way of preventing accidents. They usually hurt, so sensible people avoid them). If everyone wore a helmet, all the time, would they be more or less careful?

This survey is just another incursion of the nanny state into freedom of choice. If I want to kill myself, that's my business. I can think of another old person who doesn't wear helmets, not when riding an ATV (so far as I am aware) but when riding a horse which is a far more dangerous activity. She is, BTW, in her 90s!

What if you fall off and are severely brain damaged the state will then have to pay to look after you.
Would you drive without a seatbelt?

 

[Dry Rot]

What if you fall off and are severely brain damaged the state will then have to pay to look after you.
Would you drive without a seatbelt?

If that happens, I won't be found and the only cost will be cremation.

"If 'ifs' and 'ands' were pots and pans, there'd be no room for tinkers".

Yes, I would drive without a seat belt if the nanny state didn't make it illegal and the chances of getting caught were less than they are. I've driven far more miles without a seat belt than with one. And I have never fallen off an ATV because of the reasons I have already stated.

 

[ollie989898]

It would be nice if the OP detailed why the study was being conducted? I presume if this is being carried out by psychology students it is to study the attitudes of people in the agricultural sector concerning their perception of risk?

As for wearing a helmet, protect your skull if you want but it's your neck and spine that will be fudged.

 

[Drirwin]

It would be nice if the OP detailed why the study was being conducted? I presume if this is being carried out by psychology students it is to study the attitudes of people in the agricultural sector concerning their perception of risk?

As for wearing a helmet, protect your skull if you want but it's your neck and spine that will be fudged.

Hello, the aims of the study are outlined in the info sheet in the link, but a short overview = yes we are investigating attitudes towards ATV safety and helmet wearing including perception of risk, factors influencing helmet wearing / not wearing, perception of social norms (do most farmers wear helmets or only the odd few?) etc. We are using the COM-B model of behaviour to guide the questions and analysis but I can't go into too much detail for fear of influencing responses - more details on the model etc. are available in the debrief if you complete the survey

 

[Agrivator]

Hello, the aims of the study are outlined in the info sheet in the link, but a short overview = yes we are investigating attitudes towards ATV safety and helmet wearing including perception of risk, factors influencing helmet wearing / not wearing, perception of social norms (do most farmers wear helmets or only the odd few?) etc. We are using the COM-B model of behaviour to guide the questions and analysis but I can't go into too much detail for fear of influencing responses - more details on the model etc. are available in the debrief if you complete the survey

I think most ATV users, at least on Upland and Hill farms, wouldn't dispute the following:

1. The vast majority of ATV users are safety conscience - whether they are climbing ladders, tagging calves or working with machinery, or carrying out a whole host of dicey jobs. If that were not true, most of us would have killed ourselves by now.

2. About 90 -95% of regular ATV users do not wear a helmet.

3. About 5-10% of regular users wear a helmet, or at least carry one on the bike.

4. Of those that wear a helmet, the majority will be Estate Workers or employees on farms where the boss insists they wear a helmet just to cover themselves against fines and litigation.

5. On a cold day, I might wear a free ''Beany'' hat - courtesy of Davidsons, Shearwell or A P Supplies. And if it gets really cold, I might pull it down over my ears - It doesn't do anything for my street cred, and it's a reckless manoeuver because it impairs my sight and hearing, and is a real safety risk.

 

[Drirwin]

I think most ATV users, at least on Upland and Hill farms, wouldn't dispute the following:

1. The vast majority of ATV users are safety conscience - whether they are climbing ladders, tagging calves or working with machinery, or carrying out a whole host of dicey jobs. If that were not true, most of us would have killed ourselves by now.

2. About 90 -95% of regular ATV users do not wear a helmet.

3. About 5-10% of regular users wear a helmet, or at least carry one on the bike.

4. Of those that wear a helmet, the majority will be Estate Workers or employees on farms where the boss insists they wear a helmet just to cover themselves against fines and litigation.

5. On a cold day, I might wear a free ''Beany'' hat - courtesy of Davidsons, Shearwell ot A P Petch. And if it gets really cold, I might pull it down over my ears - a reckless manoeuver because it impairs my sight and hearing, and is a real safety risk.

My own perception in terms of numbers matches this - and will be interesting to see if our sample reflects a similar pattern (still about 50/50 wear / not wear at the moment, so we at least have good representation for both sides thus far). What we are interested in are the reasons, and thoughts, as to the motivating factors behind the wear / not wear decision - and whether that relates to safety / risk perception or not. It has been interesting to see stated safety reasons for not wearing I must say - I didn't expect that (but that's exactly why we need to do research - to find out what the people on the frontline really think!). From what I can see already from our data there are lots of reasons for both sides - and I am really looking forward to delving into the data with my student and understanding the various motivating factors in more depth. Thanks for this comment, and to everyone else who has commented, this discussion itself has been very interesting - I hope people are as detailed when filling out the survey