Motorcycle Safety 

Motorcycle Training and Track Days:  List of motorcycle training resources, track days, motorcycle training in the U.S.A. and supervised training for beginning and advanced motorcyclists

Motorcycle Riding Skills and Techniques:  Ruminations on motorcycle clothing safety standards  |  ACU five star motorcycle helmet safety standard to replace ACU Gold sticker; will combine Snell and ECE 22.05 standards  |  wBW review of the Safe Lites BeaconWear lighted safety vest with "GlowSkin electroluminescent technology  |  Information on the Alternate Motorcycle Operator Skills Test with information and course diagrams  |  Information on the Advanced Motorcycle Training school in the U.K. - the techniques apply whichever side of the road you ride!  |  Read a book and learn about motorcycle riding skills and advanced motorcycle riding techniques!  |  Patterns for laying out cones for rider training from the Alameda County (California) Sheriff's Office

Motorcycle Safety News:  NEW!  University of Pittsburgh study finds increased deaths after helmet law repealed in Pennsylvania  |  University of Missouri Study Finds Fatality Rates Increase with Repeal of Helmet Laws  |  New SHARP motorcycle helmet safety comparison rating system launched in the UK  |  Dainese D-Air motorcycle airbag system deploys for first time in racing  |  NHTSA Releases 2006 Accident Reports; Motorcycle Fatalities Increase for 9th Straight Year  |  Motorcycle industry pledges matching funds for new accident study  |  AMA releases public service announcement video to help raise awareness of motorcycles on the road; view video in Windows Media format (3.4MB)  |  Ducati commits to the European Road Safety Charter  |  Snell and FIA to release new children's helmet safety standards  |  DOT reports motorcycle helmet use up from 48% of riders in 2005 to 51% in 2006, including a rise from 50% to 72% in the Western U.S.; both the Midwest and South dropped.  Study only includes approved helmets  |  wBW Motorcycle Accident Statistics article summarizes recent NHTSA data on motorcycle accidents  |  New neck safety brace for motorcyclists said to prevent hyperflexion  |  New report on motorcycle and scooter road design best practices released  |  BMW and KTM developing new type of spine protector for motorcyclists  |  wBW Knox back protector review  |  More motorcycle training urged (USA Today)  |  The smoking gun?  New study says cell phone use leads to 4x higher accident rates  |  U.S. Congress to fund motorcycle crash study  |  White motorcycle helmets improve conspicuity  |  wBW review of the Airetronics "air bag" vest  |  New European study of 921 motorcycle accidents reports on the causes and factors  (Free; simple registration required)  |  Helmet Saves Kid's Life  |  Yellow Motorcycle Clothing is good  |  Cop's Story a Reminder the Helmets Save Lives  |  Studies Support Use of Motorcycle Helmets  |  Rating of State Traffic Laws  |  Motorcycle Deaths Increase in Texas, Arkansas Following Helmet Law Repeal from U.S. Department of Transportation  |  Are all helmet laws illegal?  Read this interesting story about the legality of helmet laws in California  |  The Most Dangerous Intersections in the U.S.A.  |  State motorcycle laws; a breakdown of laws regarding helmet and headlight use, highway speeds, alcohol consumption limits and more

Motorcycle Accidents:  NHTSA reports that 2002 motorcycle fatalities increased for the fifth year in a row;  3244 riders died last year, up from 3197 in 2001.  Deaths among riders 50 and over increased 26 percent  |  South Carolina has one of the highest rates of motorcycle-related deaths in the U.S.A., but eliminates a measly $119k for MSF training  |  Read the October 2001 report "Fatal Single Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes" (DOT HS 809 360)  from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); a study recently conducted on motorcycle accidents and safety (this is a large .pdf file, you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it); here's a summary of the report  |  Increasing fatality rate for motorcyclists over age 30?  This article explains the reason -- there are now more motorcyclists over age 30, so the statistics show that when there are more motorcyclists of a given age group on the road -- no matter what that age group -- more accidents come out of that group

Motorcycle Accident Scene Investigation:  Accident Scene Management, Inc. offers the Bystander Assistance Program class

Motorcycle Safety Papers & Studies:  Reports from the 2006 National Transportation Safety Board's public forum on motorcycle safety  |  Motorcycle helmet use laws FAQ  |  Motorcycle rider conspicuity and crash related injury: case-control study  |  Eye-catching gear may reduce motorcycle injuries  |  The European MAIDS study (Motorcycle Accidents In Depth Study) is "the most comprehensive in-depth data currently available for Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs) accidents in Europe. The investigation was conducted during 3 years on 921 accidents from 5 countries using a common research methodology".  Available in English and French; to access the French version, click on "FAQ", then "Download" (Registration required but the reports are free)  |  U.S. DOT "Costs of Injuries Resulting from Motorcycle Crashes" literature review  |  The International Journal of Motorcycle Studies (IJMS) is claimed to be "the first and only peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the study and discussion of motorcycling culture"  |  "Relation between Motorcycle Helmet Use and Cervical Spinal Cord Injury" paper in the Journal of Neuroepidemiology  |  "Benefits of Safety Belts and Motorcycle Helmets" (1996) DOT report

wBW Motorcycle Riding Skills Book Reviews:  Motorcycle Track Days for Virgins  |  Stayin' Safe: The Art and Science of Riding Really Well  |  Secret Skills of Motorcycle Riding  |  UK Road Signs, Road Laws and Licensing Books  |  Streetbikes: Everything You Need To Know  |  Performance Riding Techniques  |  How To Ride a Motorcycle  |  MSF's Motorcycling Excellence, 2nd Edition  |   Smooth Riding the Pridmore Way by Reg Pridmore  |  David Hough's Proficient Motorcycling, More Proficient Motorcycling and Street Strategies  |  Ride Hard, Ride Smart by Pat Hahn  |  Sportbiking: The Real World by Gary Jaehne  |  Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ienatsch  |  Total Control by Lee Parks  |  Twist of the Wrist, Twist of the Wrist II by Keith Code  |  Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook  |  Pass Your Advanced Motorcycling Test (U.K.)  |  Pro Motocross and Off-Road Riding Techniques  |  Motorcycling Excellence by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation 

More Book Reviews:  Listed on our Motorcycle Books Page

wBW Riding Skills Video Reviews:  Ride Like a Pro III  |  Ride Like a Pro for the Ladies

More wBW:  Motorcycle Safety Page  |  Riding Schools, Training and Track Days

Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing Standards:  Interesting interactive graphic from the Motorcycle Council of NSW (AU) shows which parts of your body are most at risk in a crash with a mouse rollover  |  UK motorcycle personal protective equipment standards from the British Motorcyclists Federation  |  Recommendations for motorcycle clothing from the Motorcycle Council of New South Wales, Australia  |  Motorcycle helmet compliance and testing (FMVSS 218) from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT)  |  Foam and helmet studies and standards  |  Motorcycle Helmet Effectiveness Revsited - .pdf file study by the U.S. DOT National Center for Statistics and Analysis  |  COST 327 an older study "to establish the distribution and severity of injuries experienced by motorcyclists, focusing on the head and neck; to determine the most significant injuries and injury mechanisms; establish the tolerance of the human head, brain and neck to these injuries and injury mechanisms; use the overall findings to propose a specification for future testing of motorcycle helmets in Europe"  |  "A Buyers Guide to Motorcyclists Protective Clothing and the CE Mark" recommendations on clothing and gear  |  Viscotec protective wear for motorcyclists  |  Body and Shoulder Protector Standards Explained  |  Zylon stitching degradation report; Zylon is used as stitching in some high-end motorcycle gloves  |  Motorcycle Safety Info has lots of information on safe riding and choosing motorcycle clothing and accessories

CE-Approved Equipment Information:  Motorcyclists' Personal Protective Equipment - The History of Benefits and Standards (.pdf paper by Paul Varnsverry, presented at a U.S. NTSB forum)and associated Power Point presentation, also in .pdf format  |  Also see PVA Technical File Services, Ltd., which has an explanation of CE testing, history, and implications  | 

Headlight Modulator Regulations:  Here are the U.S. regulations for headlight modulators (they are legal in all 50 states); this is Official U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Governing Motorcycle Headlight Modulators - FMVSS 108 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) (49 CFR Part 571.108 S7.9.4) allows motorcycle headlight modulations systems all 50 states provided they comply with the standards set forth in this section. Title 49 USC 30103(b1) (US Codes) prohibits any state from forbidding a system that conforms to FMVSS 108  |  Here's a handy small one-page version to keep on your bike in case you get stopped by the Police  |  "Motorcyclists who are conspicuous are under-represented in crashes"; read more from NHTSA 

UK - European Highway Code:  Here's the official UK Highway Code that explains all of the laws regarding road travel  |  FIM official rules for motorcycle racing 

Headlight Modulators Now Legal in Canada:  Here's a copy of the Official Canadian code of regulations covering headlight modulators; taken from Technical Standards Document No. 108, Revision 3, Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment of Transport Canada  |  Here is the French version of this document  |  Kisan headlight modulators can be purchased in Canada at Treestump MSE  |  Also see information about the Canada Safety Council Motorcycle Training Program

Motorcycle Helmet and Clothing Testing:  Got a new design you think will save your knob? Get it tested at Biokinetics  |  ASTM Standards for clothing wear and abrasion  |  The Snell Foundation has information comparing Snell and DOT standards; helmet FAQ's; testing requirements; lists of certified helmets and more

Motorcycle Helmet Safety Compliance Testing:  Here are the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety testing compliance pass/fail and recall reports for the years 2000 to 2006.  Some very interesting helmets have failed testing...  |  NHTSA recalls, investigations and complaints database, updated every night.  Note: Includes much more than just motorcycle safety related recalls  |  Here's the U.S. DOT Safety Testing Procedures (Laboratory Test Procedures for FMVSS 218) for motorcycle helmets (.pdf file)

Motorcycle Visibility - Reflective Vests:  Here's a listing of our Reflective Vest Reviews  |  BikeSeen (U.K.) specializes in reflective vests, reflective tape and more; they have the U.K. Police style reflective vests.  See the wBW review of the BikeSeen reflective jacket and reflective motorcycle backpack  |  See the wBW review of the PolyBrite LED lighted safety vest  |  BikerHiway specializes in motorcycle visibility products such as vests, lighting, headlight modulators and more  |  Occunomix makes many different types of reflective vests and coats with ANSI-spec fluorescent yellow and/or orange  |  Met Vest  |  Great selection of high-viz vests and belts at Safetyline  |  High-viz harness designed for motorcyclists available at Whitehorse Press  |  Glo-flex retro-reflective tape can be used on clothing or on your bike and it also glows in the dark! It's available at The Safety Store  |  Vision Reflective Vests appear to be very well made in the U.S.A.  |  The Glo Glov is a unique, high visibility glove that can be worn alone or over some  motorcycle gloves  |  Vision Reflective Vests are made one at a time by motorcyclists  |  Cycle C jackets look normal during the day but light up at night with reflected light  |  Safety or Survival sells Conspicuity reflective vests  |  Ride Safer sells reflective tape "suspenders", reflective vests and stickers  |  Seebak reflective safety vests are used by motorcyclists and police  |  Safelites vests use "Glowskin" to increase visibility; see the wBW review of the Safelites BeaconWear vest

Motorcycle Stickers and Decals:  Mickeyjojo Motorcycle Awareness Products has "Watch for Motorcycles" bumper stickers and more  |  More on the wBW Motorcycle Stickers and Decals page

Motorcycle Visibility Articles:  Brief article comparing visibility of different clothing and helmet colors  |  Kyle's Motorcycle Safety website has information on motorcycle traffic laws in the state of Washington, motorcycle accident statistics and other safety related articles

Motorcycle Safety Video:  Here's a good safety video from the UK called "Think". Although the message is for automobile drivers and not motorcyclists, it's a good video and I wish we had a campaign like this in the U.S.A. for driver awareness.

Police Motorcycle Equipment:  Squadfitters carries all sorts of LED and strobe lighting, power supplies and other equipment for motorcycles  |  Silverman's  in the U.K. are suppliers of gear to British Police and Military for over 50 years - leathers, boots hi-viz and more

Motorcycle Helmets:  Information on motorcycle helmets, helmet reviews, safety studies and more on the wBW Motorcycle Helmet page  |  Information on the ECE 22.05 motorcycle helmet safety standard  |  Test data results for some helmets tested by the U.S. DOT  |  Snell list of approved helmets available on the Snell site  |  The Helmet Harbor has a nice comparison of Snell, DOT, BSI and ECE helmet safety standards 

Monitoring Motorcycle Tire Inflation:  Check the air pressure on your motorcycle's tires before you leave on every ride!  See the wBW review of the Roadgear digital air pressure gauge and the new revised Roadgear digital air pressure gauge

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