Knowing how to survive a motorcycle crash may sound morbid, but knowledged saves

With the wind in your hair, the city behind you, and a riding companion by your side, biking can be an exhilarating experience. There’s a freedom to it, unmatched by any other means of transportation.

But, with this freedom comes responsibility; something many riders don’t necessarily put first on their riding lists. It can be a dangerous form of travel, with the potential for catastrophic injuries, or worse.

So, God forbid, how does one fully prepare themselves to survive a motorcycle crash? Training, knowledge, and the proper safety gear can make all the difference in the world. Below, we’ll delve into ways you can keep yourself — and loved ones — safe from the dangers of the road.

The Basics

To learn how to ride — or to become a more proficient rider — the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF-USA.org) offers RiderCourses for all types. From the Basic RiderCourse to the online Motorcycle Challenge, the MSF offers classes at over 2,700 sites within the United States.

The Challenge tutorial onsite is used as a game to put you in a variety of different situations and show you how to get out unscathed. From animal encounters to narrow bridges, it offers a cornucopia of information for the interested rider.

With onsite training, instructors will teach the proper techniques for becoming a better rider, avoiding potential dangers on the road, and dressing to protect yourself at all times. These courses can literally be lifesavers as they will impart safety and general practices so that the next time out on the road you’ll be better prepared for whatever comes your way.

The Most Important Aspect of Riding

Superbike, Motocross, and other speed racers know how important it is to wear the proper safety gear while battling for position on the track. So, why don’t you?

These riders wear some pretty hardcore suits (abrasion resistant) which can help to cushion joints, bones, and other important organs during a fall. Regular riders, though, can implement some of the more important safety aspects into their own riding in order to help survive a motorcycle crash.

Back protectors can be used for protection by riders, although certain models can be a little too stiff for some riders. Some models also may not provide the necessary protection as they offer only a weak, flimsy piece of material for protection. The higher end, more “armor-like” models, though, will fit comfortably underneath your riding jacket and aren’t too cumbersome to be overpowering. If they’re good enough for death-defying racers, they are good enough for your evening jaunt on your hog around town.

Gloves can also be an important addition to your safety wardrobe, as well. They can save your fingers as well as provide extra grip during wet weather season. Yet, one item may be the most important to possess for motorbike riders looking to enjoy the open road: the motorcycle helmet. Apart from death, a large portion of injuries sustained result in traumatic brain injuries for those who aren’t wearing helmets.

According to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) helmets were estimated to have saved 1,829 motorbikers’ lives in 2008. In addition, 823 more riders’ lives could have been saved if they had been wearing helmets. In total, there were 96,000 motorbike riders injured in 2008.

According to their statistics, 5,290 motorbike riders died as a result of injuries sustained during an accident in 2008. The silver lining, though, was that helmet usage increased by 19% from 2005 to 2009 (48 percent wore helmets in 2005 as compared to 67 percent wore them in 2009).
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You may not want to (or think you need to) dress like a professional racer, but the addition of a helmet and proper boots, jacket, gloves, and pants, may just end up saving your life in the event of something unforeseen concurring.

Additional Thoughts

Take a look at some of these photos found at Motorbiker.org and see if you’re still interested in riding with sandals, a T-shirt, and shorts. Riding can be a dangerous endeavor but with the right equipment and the proper knowledge one can enjoy themselves as they ride off into the sunset, health, happy, and ready for the next adventure.

Resources:

Howstuffworks.com: How to Crash a Motorcycle and Walk Away from the Accident.

Motorbiker.org: How To Survive A Motorcycle Crash.

NHTSA.gov: Motorcycles.