Protective Clothing Media

Sydney, 05 October 2004 - Motorcycle protective clothing comes under the spotlight in a new website launched today by the Motorcycle Council of NSW Inc. Choosing the right gear remains a problem for riders and this reference site teaches riders how to choose the safest gear for themselves. Protective Clothing site

The Website details findings from research funded by the Motor Accidents Authority in a practical and easy to use format. The site provides information on the injury risk to each part of the body and how to choose effective protective gear.

Each year in NSW alone, 2000 riders are involved in a crash with 90 per cent resulting in casualties. Four out of five rider casualties will have injuries to their legs and a third will have broken bones. However few riders adequately protect their feet and legs. Research has shown that over 50 per cent of motorcyclists normally wear jeans, which have proven to last less than one second when a rider hits the road .

According to Guy Stanford, Chairman Motorcycle Council of NSW, good protective gear can prevent or reduce many types of injury in a crash: “The majority of motorcyclists wear a helmet and jacket and the Website provides good research-based information on protecting the rest of their body. No matter what type of bike you ride, good quality protective clothing, is really worth while. Our message is: 'Don't spend all your money on a helmet. Save your hands, legs and feet as well.'”

Until now there has been little information available to motorcyclists when choosing safety gear. The main source has been promotional material from the various manufacturers, but there has been no independent reference on how to choose well designed motorcycle gear.

“Europe has a set of standards and a process for testing the effectiveness of motorcycle protective clothing, however, there are only recommended guidelines in Australia,” said Liz de Rome, road safety research and development consultant.

“With many riders trusting manufacturers' claims and basing their decision on what looks good, we've designed this Website to arm them with information to choose the safest gear. The good news is that it is not necessarily the most expensive gear that gives the best protection.”

The Website includes specific information based on extensive research about parts of the body which are most at risk in case of an accident and how different types of protective clothing can help to minimise the injury. With the average injury cost for a motorcycle casualty in NSW almost double that of the average road casualty , the Website provides riders with the tools to reduce the risk and severity of injuries.

Industry Approach
“As well as launching this website, we want to share the findings from our research with the local industry to make sure they are aware of the issues and that all motorcycle safety gear sold here is fit for the purpose,” said Guy Stanford. “We want to encourage manufacturers to use existing Australian guidelines and the European standards combined with our findings to ensure all clothing is made to the highest safety standards.”

ENDS

BACKGROUNDER October 2004

Motorcyclists are a relatively vulnerable road user group. They have less protection and a higher risk of serious injury in the event of a crash than vehicle occupants.

· Motorcycle riders and pillions constitute around 10 to 13 per cent of all road deaths each year.

· Motorcyclists account for 18 to 20 per cent of all people seriously injured on the roads each year.

· In the 2001-02 financial year, the latest 12-month period for which data are available, there were 22,775 people seriously injured, of whom 4,486 were motorcyclists.

The latest international research suggests that riders' clothing is effective in preventing 34 per cent and reducing 57 per cent of minor injuries . Motorcycle gear can prevent or reduce some injuries, particularly those caused when a rider is sliding and tumbling along the road surface.

The types of injuries that can be prevented or reduced are generally relatively minor injuries, but they represent over half of all injuries sustained by motorcycle casualties .

Protective clothing may also reduce the risk of complications in the healing of more severe wounds by reducing:

· The risk of infections from road dirt contamination of open wounds.

· Blood loss and the additional pain and discomfort of gravel rash and other soft tissue damage.

A German study found that after a motorcycle crash, riders with protective clothing spent on average seven days less time in hospital than did those without protective clothing. They also were able to return to work 20 days sooner and were 40 per cent less likely to have permanent physical defects.