Post by Crossbones Dennis on Jun 4, 2010 17:02:37 GMT -6
Ten percent of motorcycle and scooter riders report they have had an accident in the last five years, and almost half of those were solo crashes, according to a new survey from Consumer Reports.
Most of the solo crashes reported were either running wide on a curve or sliding out in a turn.
Seven in 10 riders consider themselves experienced and say they have had their motorcycle or scooter licenses for at least five years.
Just over half of respondents said they had taken a formal riding instruction course, and nearly one in four said they don't always wear a helmet when they ride. Use of other safety gear is even more sparse, with half of respondents saying they regularly wearing protective boots, and less than half regularly wear gloves.
About 25 percent said they always wear a leather or other protective jacket when riding.
Three in five riders admitted to riding in a short-sleeved shirt, and about a quarter said they rode in shorts.
More than one third of all accidents resulted in a painful road rash and almost 25 percent involved broken bones.
Consumer Reports is advocating mandatory antilock brakes, something the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has asked the federal government to require on all new motorcycles.
The survey was conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center late last year, and includes responses from 1,383 subscribers reporting on 1,563 motorcycles and scooters
Most of the solo crashes reported were either running wide on a curve or sliding out in a turn.
Seven in 10 riders consider themselves experienced and say they have had their motorcycle or scooter licenses for at least five years.
Just over half of respondents said they had taken a formal riding instruction course, and nearly one in four said they don't always wear a helmet when they ride. Use of other safety gear is even more sparse, with half of respondents saying they regularly wearing protective boots, and less than half regularly wear gloves.
About 25 percent said they always wear a leather or other protective jacket when riding.
Three in five riders admitted to riding in a short-sleeved shirt, and about a quarter said they rode in shorts.
More than one third of all accidents resulted in a painful road rash and almost 25 percent involved broken bones.
Consumer Reports is advocating mandatory antilock brakes, something the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has asked the federal government to require on all new motorcycles.
The survey was conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center late last year, and includes responses from 1,383 subscribers reporting on 1,563 motorcycles and scooters