Difference between revisions of "Motorcycle safety"
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{{main|Hurt Report}} | {{main|Hurt Report}} | ||
The only major work done on this subject in the USA is the [[Hurt Report]], published in 1981 with data collected in Los Angeles and the surrounding rural areas.<ref name="Hough1">{{Citation | The only major work done on this subject in the USA is the [[Hurt Report]], published in 1981 with data collected in Los Angeles and the surrounding rural areas.<ref name="Hough1">{{Citation | ||
|last=Hough |first=David L. | |last=Hough |first=David L. |title=Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well |edition=2nd |year=2000|publisher=BowTie Press|location=USA | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=yeAIAIxS-cgC&q |isbn=1889540536, 9781889540535 | ||
|page=20 | quote= | |page=20 | quote= | ||
}}</ref> There have been longstanding calls for a new safety study in the US, and Congress has provided the seed money for such a project, but as yet the remainder of the funding has not all been pledged.<ref name="LAT1">{{Citation | }}</ref> There have been longstanding calls for a new safety study in the US, and Congress has provided the seed money for such a project, but as yet the remainder of the funding has not all been pledged.<ref name="LAT1">{{Citation | ||
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* Collision with less forgiving protective barriers, or badly placed roadside "furniture" (lampposts, signs, fences etc.) This is often simply a result of poor road design, and can be engineered out to a large degree. Note that when one falls off a motorcycle in the middle of a curve, lamps and signs create a "wall" of sorts with little chance to avoid slamming against a pole. | * Collision with less forgiving protective barriers, or badly placed roadside "furniture" (lampposts, signs, fences etc.) This is often simply a result of poor road design, and can be engineered out to a large degree. Note that when one falls off a motorcycle in the middle of a curve, lamps and signs create a "wall" of sorts with little chance to avoid slamming against a pole. | ||
* Concussion and brain damage, as the head violently contacts other vehicles or objects. Riders wearing an [[Motorcycle_helmet#Standards_testing|approved helmet]] reduce the risk of death by 37 percent.<ref>{{Citation | * Concussion and brain damage, as the head violently contacts other vehicles or objects. Riders wearing an [[Motorcycle_helmet#Standards_testing|approved helmet]] reduce the risk of death by 37 percent.<ref>{{Citation | ||
|last=Wald |first=Matthew |date= 12 September 2007 |title=Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Renews Helmet Law Debate |newspaper= | |last=Wald |first=Matthew |date= 12 September 2007 |title=Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Renews Helmet Law Debate |newspaper=The New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/us/12helmet.html }}</ref> | ||
* Breakage of joints (elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and wrists), fingers, spine and neck, for the same reason. The most common breakages are the shoulder and the pelvis. | * Breakage of joints (elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and wrists), fingers, spine and neck, for the same reason. The most common breakages are the shoulder and the pelvis. | ||
* Soft tissue (skin and muscle) damage ([[road rash]]) as the body slides across the surface at speed. This can be prevented entirely with the proper use of motorcycle-specific protective apparel such as a leather jacket or reinforced denim and textile pants. | * Soft tissue (skin and muscle) damage ([[road rash]]) as the body slides across the surface at speed. This can be prevented entirely with the proper use of motorcycle-specific protective apparel such as a leather jacket or reinforced denim and textile pants. | ||