In case of suffering a traffic accident, having adequate clothing can reduce the injuries you could have. Even so, the use of protective equipment does not prevent accidents or injuries by itself, the prudence and awareness of the motorcyclist in traffic can avoid dangerous situations.
Despite changes in vehicle technology and safety equipment, injuries from motorcycle accidents follow a definite pattern, with the legs, arms, and head being the most vulnerable areas.
Clothing should serve as protection against injury, and not just as protection from the weather.
Here are some recommendations for you to choose your clothing correctly.
They protect the torso and arms. Most of the models include padding or special protections on the elbows, spine and shoulders. At FTX we prefer jackets made with materials resistant to rubbing and abrasion, with bright colors to favor visibility and that fit the body enough to be comfortable and keep the impact protectors in place. Some jackets and vests have integrated airbags, which depending on their activation can be classified into two types:
- Mechanically activated: the jacket or vest has a flexible cord that clips onto some part of the motorcycle. In this way, if the occupant falls or is ejected, the lanyard disengages from the body, activating the airbag in a fraction of a second.
- Electronic activation: using accelerometers, the system detects if the user is falling. Its response time is faster than mechanical drive devices, however its cost is generally higher.
Both technologies make it possible to protect motorcycle users from a sudden fall or a high-speed impact, protecting the trunk and neck area, and considerably reducing injuries.
Pants
They protect the lower part of the body and legs. These are the areas with the most injuries according to statistics.
- They should be wide enough to be comfortable, but snug enough to keep the impact protectors in place.
- They must allow the motorcyclist to ride comfortably when not on the motorcycle.
Footwear, boots
They protect the feet, fingers and ankles, without impeding the driving of the vehicle. Boots with plastic or metal protections provide more protection in the event of an accident.
Gloves
They protect the hands, fingers, knuckles and wrists, against falls and inclement weather. They must be made of resistant materials and cover the entire hand.
Body protectors
They are designed to be worn with normal clothing and can be purchased separately or included in the original equipment. These elements protect against injuries caused by falling or hitting the ground in the event of an accident. It is recommended that protectors carry the CE mark as proof that they meet the requirements of EU standards.
There are different types of protectors, for example:
- Arm protectors.
- Shoulder protector (pauldron).
- Back protector (back protector).
- Chest protector (breastplate).
- Hip protector.
- Thigh protector (muslera).
- Protector of the knee (knee) and leg (leg).
- Neck brace: prevents sudden movements of the head forwards, backwards or to the sides, as well as preventing compression of the spine by the force exerted by the helmet on the neck.
Advantages:
In the event of an accident, they prevent the laceration and abrasion that occurs when one falls off the motorcycle or hits the road.
They prevent and reduce the severity of bruises, fractures, muscle tears and collateral damage.
