The Advertising Standards Authority has reversed its decision to ban a Cycling Scotland advert which featured a cyclist not wearing a helmet, because it is not a legal requirement to wear one.

Cycling Scotland, a charity which promotes cycling in Scotland, submitted a request for an independent review of the original decision banning the advert, which was handed down by the ASA in January.

The advert aims to promote safer cycling by encouraging motorists to treat cyclists like horses by slowing down and giving them plenty of space when overtaking.

Ian Aitken, chief executive of Cycling Scotland said: “The advert shows drivers the correct amount of space to give when overtaking someone who is cycling.  People cycle for a variety of reasons, and, as such, drivers will encounter people cycling in a range of clothing styles, some with and some without a helmet.”

In today’s assessment the ASA concluded that the advert was not socially irresponsible because: “It was not a UK legal requirement for cyclists to wear helmets and because the ad depicted a range of real life situations in which motorists may encounter cyclists on the road for the purposes of educating them about the risks to cyclists posed by poor driving behaviours.”

The ASA received five complaints about the advert from people who said it was irresponsible and harmful. It originally upheld these complaints saying that it undermined the Highway Code, which recommends people wear helmets.

Cycling Scotland had argued there was "a broad spectrum of research and opinion across the road safety and health communities" when it comes to issues relating to helmet use. It said the advert "reflected this diversity by showing cyclists both with and without helmets".