When it comes to owning a bike in Connecticut, many motorcyclists are more concerned with the cool factor than safety. As a result, you may see many riders on the highway without a helmet, or riding with cut-off sleeved outfits. While sleeves on a shirt will not be saving lives any time soon, that helmet might be the difference between life or death for many.
Forbes notes that even though motorcycle crash fatalities went down by around 5.6% for 2018, bikers still had higher fatality rates than passenger vehicle occupants. The figures say about 28 times higher. Is it any wonder so many parents refuse to purchase bikes for their teenagers?
Still, the bikes themselves are not really the problem. For instance, motorcyclists have a blood alcohol level over the legal limit in 25% of fatal motorcycle crashes. Drugs also play a role, especially with the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in several states. What may also surprise many concerned parents is that young riders are not the primary victims on the road. The largest group of motorcycle fatality victims are over 40 years old.
As RideApart points out, young or old, one way that riders may protect themselves is by wearing the proper gear. The company notes that injuries around the face make up around 45% of impacts to motorcycle helmets. As a result, they recommend full helmets. Riders are also encouraged to change their helmets every half a decade as the materials may begin to degrade at this point. There are many fashion-helmets on the market, so riders should take care to purchase one with a DOT-approved sticker on the back.
Human bodies are not engineered to withstand high-speed and high-impact crashes. This is why passenger vehicles are typically safer than a motorcycle. Even so, wearing full helmets and other accompanying gear, such as body suits, riding pants and jackets, can go a long way to protect the body in a crash.