Even though we are the first to
agree that there is nothing like the feeling of the wind in your hair when you are
riding along on your motorcycle. Back in
the 60’s when I first started riding motorcycles, I remember clearly the
sensation of my hair flying in the wind behind me, the smells of the area I was
riding through, the freedom I felt. We
didn’t wear helmets because we didn’t think of it. They were big and bulky and
would make your hair flat.
But nowadays with so much more
traffic than there was 40 years ago, there is no denying that helmets save
motorcycle riders' lives. Preventing
serious injuries and deaths from motorcycle crashes is a major and growing
public health concern.
Consider that:
·
Motorcycle crashes killed 4,502 people in 2010.
·
Motorcycle-related deaths have increased by 55% since 2000.
·
Motorcycle crash-related injuries and deaths totaled $12 billion
in one year, in medical care costs and productivity losses.
·
Almost half of the fatal accidents show
alcohol involvement and injury severity increases with speed, alcohol
involvement and motorcycle size.
·
In the multiple vehicle
accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way
and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.
·
Reports indicate that the
wearing of appropriate gear, specifically, helmets and durable garments,
mitigates crash injuries substantially.
The good news is that
riders and their passengers can protect themselves by wearing helmets. Helmets
are estimated to prevent 37 percent of crash deaths among motorcycle riders and
41 percent of crash deaths for motorcycle passengers.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, in 2006, 13.10 cars out of 100,000 ended up in fatal crashes.
The rate for motorcycles is 72.34 per 100,000 registered motorcycles. Motorcycles
also have a higher fatality rate per unit of distance traveled when compared
with automobiles. Per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists' risk
of a fatal crash is 35 times greater than a passenger car. Motorcycles have 16
times the rate of serious injuries per 100 million miles compared to cars, and
double the rate of bicycles.
Additional data reveals that there are over four million
motorcycles registered in the United States. Motorcycle fatalities represent
approximately five percent of all highway fatalities each year, yet motorcycles
represent just two percent of all registered vehicles in the United States. One
of the main reasons motorcyclists are killed in crashes is because the
motorcycle itself provides virtually no protection in a crash. For example,
approximately 80 percent of reported motorcycle crashes result in injury or
death; a comparable figure for automobiles is about 20 percent.
When you ride your
motorcycle or are a passenger, follow these tips to stay safe:
·
Always wear a DOT-approved
helmet. They come in a variety of sizes and
designs, can make a fashion statement, and are easily the best protection money
can buy.
·
Never ride your motorcycle
after drinking. Alcohol greatly
impairs your ability to safely operate a motorcycle. If you have been drinking,
get a ride home or call a taxi.
·
Don't let friends ride
impaired. Take their keys away.
·
Wear protective clothing
that provides some level of injury protection Leather jackets and chaps during the winter
months, denim jackets and chaps when it is warmer out. Never ride in flip-flops and shorts. It only takes a second to touch a hot pipe
with your bare skin and incur a bad burn.
·
Avoid tailgating.
·
Maintain a safe speed and
exercise caution when traveling over slippery surfaces or gravel.
We know many motorcycle riders and also
ride our own motorcycle. Recently a
popular guy at our local bowling alley was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident. His wife, who was wearing a helmet,
lived. He was not wearing a helmet and
he incurred fatal brain injuries.
As retailers who sell motorcycle safety attire,
we are acutely aware of the importance of wearing helmets, Motorcycle jackets, Motorcycle leather clothing, as well as driving defensively.
We sincerely hope our friends and customers all take heed and wear
proper attire when riding.
