Increased Motorcycle sales and Motorcycle fatalities

The economic  afflictions and the inflation in gas prices have given rise to the increased motorcycle sales. The yearly motorcycle sales increased from around 356,000 to about 1.1 million bikes between 1997 and 2006. That is why, it wasn’t a surprise when the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) released their motor vehicle fatality report in 2007 which said that the number of motorcycle deaths increased by almost 7%. The government has been keeping the statistics for such fatalities since 1970s and the aforesaid 2007’s report was the one with the largest increase in fatalities for the motorcycle sector.

 

Though  all 50 states and the District of Columbia need a license for  operating a motorcycle but only few of them need a rider education course. In most of these states, the license is issued  with the  passing written exam score and on-cycle skills test. Due to an alarming increase in the number of motorcycle riders,  there has been a sudden rise  in the number of programs offering training classes. But this number of class participants is quite low in comparison of those inexperienced riders on the road. The major cause behind the increasing fatality rate in motorcycle accidents is the lack of training and experience.  

 

Although several states revoked the helmet laws looking at the dramatic increase in motorcycle sales and inexperienced riders but still the increase in motorcycle fatalities continues. A head protection is a must for a rider if he wants to survive a crash. But on the other hand, even these helmets are of different standards and that is why  the Department of Transportation has set standards for the helmets they approve. Another safety equipment for a bike rider includes a motorcycle jacket. This jacket is particularly designed for use of a rider.  These jackets are made of a tougher  and  a heavier leather in comparison of the usual leather jackets. The rider’s leather jacket provide protection from road burn, better wicking capabilities during rain and also  offer better protection against insects and other materials which may come up all of a sudden during driving.

 

Similarly there are ideal boots for a rider which comprises hard-soles. Such boots provide  the best foot protection to the rider  while riding. Because of their sturdiness and structure, these boots may provide all the support for preventing a bike from falling.  Though no safety equipment can provide a complete protection to the rider but such equipments can significantly increase the  survival rates during the accidents.