People often warn motorcycle riders that they take their lives in their hands every time they hit the open road as a way of reminding them to make safety a top priority. While this safety risk is true for anyone traveling in a motor vehicle, safety is more of a concern for those on motorcycles.
After all, the vehicle itself does very little to protect the human body from the trauma of a collision. Thankfully, there is supplemental safety equipment that motorcycle riders can utilize to reduce the severity of common injuries incurred during collisions between two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles.
Helmets decrease brain injury risk and TBI severity
The human brain is incredibly delicate, and it only takes one instance of blunt-force trauma to leave someone permanently incapacitated. A motorcycle helmet is not total protection from brain injury, but it can make a major difference in the event of a serious collision. A helmet noticeably decreases the likelihood of someone dying in a wreck by as much as 37% according to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and may also diminish the risk of a severe brain injury by 67%.
Riding gear can protect someone’s skin
Although the brain may be one of the biggest injury concerns in a motorcycle crash, the entire body is vulnerable. Riders often develop road rash after a crash, which is the result of the pavement damaging their skin. Protective gear including jackets and special riding pants, as well as heavy-duty boots, can protect someone’s skin from abrasion and friction during a crash. Riders may want to invest in a helmet with a full-face shield as well to protect their faces from disfiguring injuries.
Other safety gear could also help reduce someone’s risk of suffering major injuries. Visibility gear is one of the most commonly ignored forms of safety equipment that could help reduce a motorcycle rider’s overall chance of a collision, for example.
Investing in good gear and then replacing it after even mild collisions could save someone’s life or improve their prognosis after a motorcycle crash.
