Wearing Motorcycle Safety Gear

Being that motorcycles don’t have the protection of steel and airbags like cars, it’s not surprising that motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to experience a fatal accident than car drivers. However, motorcyclists can significantly reduce their chance of injury—and even death in some cases—by wearing the appropriate safety gear.

Helmet: This is the most important piece of safety gear that money can buy. It’s crucial to protect your head from the impact of an accident. Helmets should be snug around your whole head for the best protection. A certification from the Department of Transportation and/or the Snell Memorial Foundation means that a helmet has gone through rigorous safety testing.

Clothing: Leather clothing is a biking staple for a reason. The thick material offers better protection if you should come in contact with the asphalt because the texture helps riders slide, rather than tumbling after a fall. This reduces your chance of abrasions, bruising and even fractured bones in some cases. Even in the hot summer months, ventilated leather jackets are a good choice when biking.

Boots and gloves: Motorcycle boots are designed to protect your feet, ankles and lower legs from both the elements and impact. They often have thick rubber soles for traction and reinforced materials around the ankle bones. Motorcycle gloves offer additional protection, which comes in handy during poor weather conditions and to prevent injuries associated with the instinctive motion of putting your hands out in front of you during a fall.

Body Armor: Body armor is often made of foam or impact-resistant plastic. There are many types, some of which is designed to be worn under your clothes, along with pants and jackets that have body armor sewn into them. Body armor offers more protection during a fall, protecting your body from a variety of injuries.

Stay safe on the road. Call Ed Weeren Insurance Agency at (512) 454-5266 for more information on Austin motorcycle insurance.

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