Motorcycle Safety

• Motorcycle rider death rates increased among all rider age groups between 1998 and 2000


• Motorcycle rider deaths were nearly 30 times more than drivers of other vehicles


• Motorcycle riders aged below 40 are 36 times more likely to be killed than other vehicle operators of the same age.


• Motorcycle riders aged 40 years and over are around 20 times more likely to be killed than other drivers of that age. {Link without Title}

''The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.''

''Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets. ''

• Concussion and brain damage, as the head violently contacts the ground.


• Breakage of joints (elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and wrists), fingers, spine and neck, for the same reason. The most common breakages on sportsbike riders are the shoulder and the pelvis.


• Soft tissue (skin and muscle) damage ( Road Rash ) as the body slides across the surface at speed. There is also a condition known as biker's arm, where the nerves in the upper arm are damaged during the fall, causing a permanent paralysis of arm movement.


• Facial disfigurement, if the unprotected face slides across the ground.

''The likelihood of injury is extremely high in these motorcycle accidents-98% of the multiple vehicle collisions and 96% of the single vehicle accidents resulted in some kind of injury to the motorcycle rider; 45% resulted in more than a minor injury. ''

• Improved Visibility — Although for decades the popular image of the motorcycle rider has been of someone clad head-to-toe in black leather, in the light of the Hurt Report findings, and the day-to-day experiences of motorcyclists themselves, many riders choose higher-visibility gear. Bright colors and Retroreflective strips are common on quality equipment.


• Abrasion Resistance — Thick, tough leather provides the most abrasion resistance in a crash, but fabrics such as cordura, kevlar and ballistic nylon provide significant protection too. In addition, fabrics are generally cheaper, easier to maintain, and more comfortable in hot weather. Thick leather, which affords the most abrasion resistance, can be uncomfortable in temperatures exceeding 85° and above 100° may cause heat injuries. Some PPE may be constructed of fabrics made into a 'mesh' that provides cooling and a stable surface for the attachment of padding (see below).


• Padding — Quality jackets and pants provide significant extra padding in the vulnerable joint regions described above. This can take the form of simple foam padding, or dual-density foam that stiffens when compressed, sometimes with plastic or carbon fiber outer-shells that distribute the impact across the pad.


• Weather Protection — One important aspect of PPE not mentioned above is protection from the elements. Motorcyclists exist in very close contact with nature, unlike car drivers who are essentially indifferent to it. Extreme weather can make a long ride unbearable or dangerous. PPE provides protection from wind, rain and cold.

• Helmet — A full-face helmet provides the most protection, with 3/4- and 1/2-face helmets available.


• Gloves — Commonly made of leather, cordura, or kevlar, or some combination. Some include carbon fiber knuckle protection or other forms of rigid padding. Gloves designed specifically for motorcycle use have slightly curved fingers and the seams are on the outer surfaces to allow the motorcyclist to maintain his grip and control on the handlebars and clutch/brake levers.


• Jackets — Generally made from leather, ballistic nylon, leather, cordura, kevlar or other synthetics. Most jackets include special padding on elbows, spine and shoulders.


• Pants — Made of the same material as jackets, usually including special protection for the knees and hips. One company even makes a pair of cotton denim jeans with kevlar reinforcement.


• Boots — Especially those for sport riding, include reinforcement and plastic caps on the ankles, and toe area. Boots designed for cruiser-style riders often have steel-reinforced toes. Boots should always have a rubber sole (as opposed to leather or other less-flexible materials).


• Goggles or Helmet Visor — Eye protection is of utmost importance - an insect or a kicked-up pebble in the eye at speed has enough momentum to cause significant damage. Such an event could easily cause the rider to lose control and crash. Besides this danger, squinting into the wind is unpleasant at best and watering eyes are quite distracting.


• Ear plugs — Most riders experience substantial wind noise at speeds above 40-50 mph; at speeds of 65-70 mph, hearing damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes. Ear plugs help protect against hearing damage, and reduce fatigue during long rides.


• Vests — Made with high-visibility colors and Retroreflective materials, vests can be worn over jackets to increase the chance of being seen and allow drivers to better judge the speed and position of riders, especially in adverse conditions of dark and wet.


• Other PPE — Dirt bike riders wear a range of plastic armor to protect against injury from falling and hitting other riders and bikes, running into track barriers, and being hit by flying debris kicked up by the tires of other riders' bikes. This type of armor typically covers the back, chest, and sometimes the extremities.

'' Crash bars are not an effective injury countermeasure; the reduction of injury to the ankle-foot is balanced by increase of injury to the thigh-upper leg, knee, and lower leg. ''

• "Fatal Single Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes" , report by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , October 2001 ( PDF )


• "MAIDS, In-depth investigation of motorcycle accidents" , a summary of European accidents by the Association Des Constructeurs Européens De Motocycle


• "Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures" , AKA the "Hurt Report", by the US National Technical Information Service , January 1981


• "Casualty rates: by road user type and severity: 1994 to 2004" - Department of Transport, UK.


• "In-Depth Study of Motorcycle Accidents" - Department of Transport, UK, November 2004


• ''Eye catching gear may reduce motorcycle injuries'' , Summary of New Zealand paper studying effect of rider visibility on accidents. (Full paper available at link.)

• Pedestrian Safety Through Vehicle Design