Section 2. Personal protective equipment Overview Even the best-trained and most safety-conscious motorcyclists may be involved in a crash. If they are, motorcycle helmets and other personal protective equipment provide their only defense against injury. Helmets meeting the FMVSS 218 standard are highly effective in reducing head and brain injuries (see Liu et al. [2003] for a comprehensive review of the evidence). Helmets with face shields also protect riders’ eyes from wind and foreign objects. Well-constructed jackets, pants, boots, and gloves can prevent abrasions and bruises. If made of impact-resistant material, they may prevent arm and leg fractures or serious torso and spinal cord injuries. As of 2006, 20 States require all motorcyclists to wear helmets and most other States require motorcyclists under the age of 18 or 21 to wear helmets. Thirty-six States require some form of eye protection. While helmets have received the most attention and produced the most controversy, protective equipment may be most effectively considered and marketed as a total package. Helmets are the only personal protective equipment item regulated by the Federal government and for which use data are available. Forty-eight percent of all riders observed in NHTSA’s 2005 nationwide survey wore FMVSS 218-compliant helmets, down from 71 percent in 2000. An additional 9 percent wore non-compliant helmets. FMVSS 218 helmet use was 67 percent in States with helmet use laws covering all riders compared to 38 percent in other States (Glassbrenner, 2005). Objective: Increase the number of motorcyclists who wear FMVSS 218-compliant helmets and other personal protective equipment. Strategy 2.1: Education – Educate motorcyclists about the benefits of FMVSS 218-compliant helmets and other protective equipment. The benefits of personal protective equipment are well-established through solid and unbiased research. This information should be communicated to motorcyclists in an unbiased way, through channels that motorcyclists will understand and trust. Action steps:
Promising practices:
Resources and supporting activities:
Strategy 2.2: Promotion – Promote protective equipment through rider groups, motorcycle organizations, dealers, and motorcycle manufacturers. Some motorcyclists may be discouraged from using protective equipment by peer pressure. Rider groups that endorse individual freedoms can respect and support riders who choose to wear proper gear. Manufacturers can incorporate proper gear into their total brand package. Action steps:
Promising practices:
Resources and supporting activities:
Strategy 2.3: Noncompliant helmets – Increase the use of FMVSS 218-compliant helmets through education and promotion. Some motorcycle helmets do not meet the performance standards of FMVSS 218. In NHTSA’s 2005 national survey, almost one-sixth of the helmets observed on the road were noncompliant helmets. These noncompliant helmets provide little or no protection. Motorcyclists should know the facts about noncompliant helmets and be able to determine if a helmet is noncompliant. Many State helmet laws require helmets to comply with FMVSS 218. Action steps:
Promising practices:
In 2005, West Virginia added noncompliant helmet information to the annual State Police in-service training. Officers learned how to identify noncompliant helmets through discussion, printed material, and examples of noncompliant and FMVSS 218-compliant helmets. Resources and supporting activities:
References and notes for Section 2, Personal protective equipment NAMS recommendations for States and communities on personal protective equipment General references on personal protective equipment
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