Wear leather jackets and pants EVERYTIME!

The horrific injuries to a motorcycle rider in Melbourne last week prompted Police to once again urge riders to wear leather jackets and pants, everytime they ride.

Too many riders are only wearing leather jackets and many not wearing any leathers on short trips, causing a major increase in injuries. In many cases, riders would walk away from accidents when they are wearing full leather protection.

According to Motorcycle Council Of NSW, most riders wear a motorcycle jacket (97%) but fewer wear motorcycle pants (45%). This is despite the fact there is actually far more risk of injury to the legs than to the upper body or arms.

Four out of five motorcycle casualties (81%) have injured their legs and a third have broken bones (32%). Arm injuries are less common (56%) and less likely to involve fractures (17%).

See this good guide to Jackets and Pants by the Motorcycle Council Of NSW - Road Safety.