If you find something good we should link to, please let us know.
Educational Materials:
- Our Simple Infographic Handout (PDF)
Some simple, casually presented, stats. Print it out, hang it up.
- Our tips for choosing good gear
- Rock The Gear's crash course on choosing new gear
- So you want to ride a motorcycle... and not die
- How to identify unsafe motorcycle helmets (fairly obvious stuff)
Tales of woe:
- Ride2Die.com (scroll down)
- ADV Rider's Face Plant forum section
- Google Images results for "Motorcycle Crashes"
Facts and Figures:
- NHTSA (1996). Do Motorcycle Helmets Interfere with the Vision and Hearing of Riders? Traffic Tech No. 127. Washington , DC : National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
"Helmet use did not hamper the ability of riders to see traffic or increase the time needed to visually check nearby traffic."
"The hearing test showed that there were no significant differences in the riders' ability to hear the auditory signals regardless of whether they where wearing a helmet or not. There was a difference, however, in the hearing threashold between travel speeds of 30 and 50mph. At the greater speed all riders[editor: helmeted or not] needed a louder auditory signal because of increased wind noise."
- Helmets for preventing injury in motorcycle riders (not free)
"Motorcyclists are at high risk in traffic crashes, particularly for head injury. A review of studies concluded that helmets reduce the risk of head injury by around 69% and death by around 42%. There is, so far, insufficient evidence to compare the effectiveness of different types of helmet. Some studies have suggested that helmets may protect against facial injury and that they have no effect on neck injury, but more research is required for a conclusive answer. The review supports the view that helmet use should be actively encouraged worldwide for rider safety."
-Liu BC, Ivers R, Norton R, Boufous S, Blows S, Lo SK. Helmets for preventing injury in motorcycle riders. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD004333. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004333.pub3. - Evaluation of the Repeal of Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Kentucky and Louisiana
"The 1998 universal motorcycle helmet law repeal in Kentucky and the 1999 repeal in Louisiana produced similar effects. Observed helmet use dropped from nearly full compliance under the laws to the 50 percent range without the laws. Motorcyclist fatalities increased in the near term by sizeable amounts-by over 50 percent in Kentucky and by 100 percent in Louisiana. Injuries also increased substantially in both states..."
- Evaluation of Motorcycle Helmet Law Repeal in Arkansas and Texas
"...Helmet use under the universal law was 97 percent in statewide surveys (1996 in Arkansas and 1997 in Texas). By May of 1998, observed helmet use had fallen to 52 percent in Arkansas and to 66 percent in Texas. Helmet use among all reported injured motorcyclists in Texas dropped from over 90 percent before the law change in 1997 to 69 percent in the remainder of the year and to 57 percent in 1998. Helmet use of injured young riders still covered by the helmet law also declined. Helmet use among motorcyclists receiving EMS services in Arkansas dropped from about 55 percent in 1996 and in 1997 before the law change, to 33.5 percent in the remainder of 1997 and to 29 percent in 1998. Arkansas EMS data showed an increase in the number of motorcyclists with head injuries. Texas Trauma Registry data showed that the proportion of cases involving head injury increased and that the cost per case of treating head injury increased substantially after the law change. Arkansas motorcycle operator fatalities increased by 21 percent comparing 1998 with 1996. Texas motorcycle operator fatalities increased by 31 percent comparing 1998 with 1996."