Difference between revisions of "Motorcycle safety"
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==Personal protective equipment== | ==Personal protective equipment== | ||
{{main|Motorcycle personal protective equipment}} | {{main|Motorcycle personal protective equipment}} | ||
[[Image:Motorbike safety gear 2.jpg|thumb|Right|A motorcyclist wearing helmet, gloves, boots and leathers]] | [[Image:Motorbike safety gear 2.jpg|thumb|Right|A motorcyclist wearing helmet, [[gloves]], boots and leathers]] | ||
To address the risks of motorcycling, before and after a fall, motorcyclists use personal protective equipment (PPE, or more commonly "motorcycle gear"). Many developed countries now require certain articles of PPE, and manufacturers and governments recommend its extensive use. | To address the risks of motorcycling, before and after a fall, motorcyclists use personal protective equipment (PPE, or more commonly "motorcycle gear"). Many developed countries now require certain articles of PPE, and manufacturers and governments recommend its extensive use. | ||
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* [[Motorcycle helmet|Helmet]] — A full-face helmet provides the most protection. Thirty-five percent of all crashes show major impact on the chin-bar area.<ref name=cost327>{{cite web|url= http://cordis.europa.eu/cost-transport/src/cost-327.htm| title= COST 327 | * [[Motorcycle helmet|Helmet]] — A full-face helmet provides the most protection. Thirty-five percent of all crashes show major impact on the chin-bar area.<ref name=cost327>{{cite web|url= http://cordis.europa.eu/cost-transport/src/cost-327.htm| title= COST 327 | ||
Motorcycle Safety Helmets |first=Dietmar | last= Otte|publisher=COST Transport Secretariat | accessdate= 5 April 2010}}</ref> However, 3/4- and 1/2-helmets also are available. Some motorcycle training sites have banned the use of half-helmets because of avoidable injuries sustained by riders wearing them. | Motorcycle Safety Helmets |first=Dietmar | last= Otte|publisher=COST Transport Secretariat | accessdate= 5 April 2010}}</ref> However, 3/4- and 1/2-helmets also are available. Some motorcycle training sites have banned the use of half-helmets because of avoidable injuries sustained by riders wearing them. | ||
* 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. Some gloves also provide protection to the wrist. | * 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. Some [[gloves]] also provide protection to the wrist. | ||
* Jackets — Generally made from leather, ballistic nylon, cordura, Kevlar or other synthetics. Most jackets include special padding on elbows, spine and shoulders. Airbag system technology is now available fitted to jackets and vests for accident protection and impact protection for both riders and pillions. Competition-approved hard [[armor]] is superior to soft padding. Competition-approved back and chest protectors can be worn underneath jackets. Inflatable airbag jackets can offer an additional airbag for neck support. | * Jackets — Generally made from leather, ballistic nylon, cordura, Kevlar or other synthetics. Most jackets include special padding on elbows, spine and shoulders. Airbag system technology is now available fitted to jackets and vests for accident protection and impact protection for both riders and pillions. Competition-approved hard [[armor]] is superior to soft padding. Competition-approved back and chest protectors can be worn underneath jackets. Inflatable airbag jackets can offer an additional airbag for neck support. | ||
* Pants — Made of the same material as jackets, usually including special protection for the knees and hips. | * Pants — Made of the same material as jackets, usually including special protection for the knees and hips. | ||
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* 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. | * 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. | ||
It is increasingly common for gloves, jackets, pants, and boots to be outfitted with hard plastics on probable contact areas in an effort to ensure that when a motorcyclist contacts the ground, his clothing will permit him to slide relatively easily as opposed to "crumpling", risking injury to body parts being stressed in abnormal directions. | It is increasingly common for [[gloves]], jackets, pants, and boots to be outfitted with hard plastics on probable contact areas in an effort to ensure that when a motorcyclist contacts the ground, his clothing will permit him to slide relatively easily as opposed to "crumpling", risking injury to body parts being stressed in abnormal directions. | ||
Since the first line of protection in crash contact is the outer shell of clothing, designers have moved that further from the body. The ultimate protective shell so far is an airbag that stays with the driver as he flies off the bike. However, increasing use of "exoskeleton" plastic shields attached to clothing points toward design of a complete roll bar belted to the driver. A near-stage design is a plastic or light alloy double "wheel" perimeter rim around the driver, over his head and in front and behind him. When the driver unbelts himself and gets off the bike, he leaves the wheel roll bar with the bike. But when the driver flies off the bike, the roll bar flies with him and makes contact with hard surfaces. The driver is relatively safe from contact, belted within a contact rim extending out around him. | Since the first line of protection in crash contact is the outer shell of clothing, designers have moved that further from the body. The ultimate protective shell so far is an airbag that stays with the driver as he flies off the bike. However, increasing use of "exoskeleton" plastic shields attached to clothing points toward design of a complete roll bar belted to the driver. A near-stage design is a plastic or light alloy double "wheel" perimeter rim around the driver, over his head and in front and behind him. When the driver unbelts himself and gets off the bike, he leaves the wheel roll bar with the bike. But when the driver flies off the bike, the roll bar flies with him and makes contact with hard surfaces. The driver is relatively safe from contact, belted within a contact rim extending out around him. | ||
Riders sometimes use the acronyms MOTGMOTT and ATGATT, which stand for "Most Of The Gear Most Of The Time" and "All The Gear All The Time", when describing their personal gear preferences.<ref>{{Citation |first=Ralph |last=Hanson |date=2006-06-19 |title=Motorcycles are just one of life's risks: ; Still, ATGATT is undoubtedly the best policy |periodical=Charleston Daily Mail |page=4A. |accessdate=June 6, 2009 |publisher=ProQuest Newsstand database. (Document ID: 1063575001) |url=http://ezproxy.spl.org:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1063575001&Fmt=3&clientId=11206&RQT=309&VName=PQD |quote=ATGATT? That's All The Gear, All The Time - helmet, jacket, gloves and boots. And I could be badly injured riding my motorcycle tomorrow.}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |first=Condon|last=Keith|date=2009-08|title=Gearing Up|periodical=[[Motorcycle Consumer News]]|page=41|accessdate=24 July 2009|publisher=Bowtie News|url=http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/|quote=Riders "in the know" wear "All The Gear, All The Time" (ATGATT).}}</ref> | Riders sometimes use the acronyms MOTGMOTT and ATGATT, which stand for "Most Of The Gear Most Of The Time" and "All The Gear All The Time", when describing their personal gear preferences.<ref>{{Citation |first=Ralph |last=Hanson |date=2006-06-19 |title=Motorcycles are just one of life's risks: ; Still, ATGATT is undoubtedly the best policy |periodical=Charleston Daily Mail |page=4A. |accessdate=June 6, 2009 |publisher=ProQuest Newsstand database. (Document ID: 1063575001) |url=http://ezproxy.spl.org:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1063575001&Fmt=3&clientId=11206&RQT=309&VName=PQD |quote=ATGATT? That's All The Gear, All The Time - helmet, jacket, [[gloves]] and boots. And I could be badly injured riding my motorcycle tomorrow.}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |first=Condon|last=Keith|date=2009-08|title=Gearing Up|periodical=[[Motorcycle Consumer News]]|page=41|accessdate=24 July 2009|publisher=Bowtie News|url=http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/|quote=Riders "in the know" wear "All The Gear, All The Time" (ATGATT).}}</ref> | ||
==Training== | ==Training== | ||