Road victim didn't wear helmet

Michael Ian Harvey decided to leave his helmet hanging on his handlebars as he cycled to school and that decision contributed to his death.
The popular teenager, who attended Hastings Boys' High School, was killed at 8am on December 1, 2004.
At the Hastings Coroner's Court on Wednesday, Senior Constable Alan Astridge said the Flaxmere boy had ridden past a line of stopped traffic, through a red light before colliding with a Nissan Pajero travelling through a green light at the intersection of Heretaunga and Nelson streets.
At the time of the accident Michael was not wearing a helmet but instead had it hanging from his bike's handlebars, Mr Astridge said.
When the bike was inspected the tyres were found to be bald and the bike had a loose bolt - both of which could have contributed to the accident.
Hastings coroner Peter Dennehy said it was significant that Michael had opted not to wear a helmet but because of the extent of his injuries, it was debatable whether a helmet would have saved his life.
Michael had crashed into the right-hand side of the four-wheel drive vehicle. The driver of the vehicle did everything to avoid the crash, Mr Dennehy said.
"When an accident occurs between a car and a bicycle there is no doubting who will come off second best. Cyclists should always be alert to this face and act accordingly," he said.