We recently shared data from a study that compared various helmet configuration types regarding effectiveness in preventing head and neck injuries. Now, check out the data from a study on the efficacy of gear intended to protect the rest of a rider’s body.
Motorcycle Protective Clothing: Protection from Injury or Just the Weather? is an Australian study that sought to evaluate, in quantitative terms, the effectiveness of modern protective motorcycle clothing in preventing or mitigating rider injuries in a crash.
The study was led by Liz de Rome, Research Fellow, The George Institute for Global Health at The University of Sydney, Australia. Contributors to the study included Rebecca Ivers, MPH, PhD, Michael Fitzharris, PhD, Wei Du, Narelle Haworth, Stephane Heritier, and Drew Richardson.
The study is of particular interest because it focuses on the effectiveness of motorcycle riding gear with integral impact protectors or body armor, and it controls for factors such as speed, injury type, and the rider’s age.
The study looked at rider injury outcomes in 212 motorcycle and scooter crashes. The results indicated that modern protective rider gear was most effective in preventing injury in crash incidents that involved low speed.
The effectiveness of armored motorcycle clothing, including jackets, gloves, pants, and footwear, in reducing the risk of injury was demonstrated by these findings:
- 23 percent reduced risk of injury to the upper body
- 39 percent reduced risk of injury to legs
- 45 percent reduced risk of injury to hands
- 45 percent reduced risk of injury to feet (Note: the risk of injury to feet was 53 percent higher where non-technical footwear was worn instead of boots)
One of the study’s key findings was that riders were significantly less likely to be admitted to a hospital for inpatient care if the rider was wearing a motorcycle jacket, pants, or gloves at the time of the crash.
The study also made observations about the importance of the quality of materials, design, and construction of protective riding gear. The study found some riding gear experienced material or construction failures under crash conditions:
- 29 percent of jackets
- 28 percent of pants
- 25 percent of gloves
We previously evaluated some of the construction techniques and material qualities that a gear buyer can look for in our coverage of MotoCap. It also reminds us of the importance of looking for compliance with CE standards for motorcycle apparel when shopping for riding gear.
The more data we see, the more sense it makes to buy and wear motorcycle-specific riding gear from head to toe.
