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This is not an endorsement for any jurisdiction adopting an ordinance making it mandatory for cyclists to wear helmets, but an incident last weekend in Arlington should remind bikers that shielding their noggins should be a constant habit, not a sometimes thing.

ARLnow reports a cyclist out for a ride on Sunday afternoon was taken to an area hospital after being struck by a runaway dump truck which proceeded to knock him over and run over his head. Seriously:

The man was knocked to the ground and one of the truck’s tires ran over his head, said Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. The man was wearing a helmet at the time and the helmet likely saved his life. He was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital’s trauma center with non-life-threatening injuries, Sternbeck said.

Seriously, helmet laws are pointless governmental busywork and don’t prevent bike crashes or injuries, but helmets are very important cycling accessories that can do amazing things, like PROTECT YOUR HEAD FROM BEING CRUSHED BY A RENEGADE DUMP TRUCK.