By Anita Dietz
Special to GUIDON

Most everyone has confidence in their driving and motorcycle riding skills.  No one thinks they will be involved in a crash today, or any other day. Yet, while in Missouri motorcycles account for less than 2 percent of all vehicles on the road, 12.2 percent of all fatal crashes, in 2008, involved a motorcycle. That year, a total of 108 motorcycle riders were killed and 2,284 were injured, and with riding season in the Ozarks lasting from about April to October, that equates to 341 motorcyclists injured per month — nearly 80 per week.     

In most cases, when only two vehicles are involved in a wreck, it is because one of the operators made a mistake. If you ride a motorcycle and are involved in a crash, who is at fault is secondary to surviving your certain impact with the ground.

Imagine if a person was wearing a helmet with less protection, when he was unexpectedly struck by a vehicle. Imagine the extent of his injuries if he had purchased a helmet that didn’t have thick padding inside; didn’t cover the sides of his head or chin; and didn’t have the frontal face protection of his U. S. Department of Transportation approved, full-face helmet.  

As a general rule, the thickness of the foam liner in a DOT approved helmet will be between one and two inches thick to absorb the impact in a crash. The thick liner of DOT approved helmets makes them somewhat easy to identify, since they seem to sit farther from the head.  

Helmets that cover only three quarters of the head are often referred to as open-face helmets. These DOT-approved versions offer impact protection for the back and top of the head, but nothing for the face. The half-helmet style, known as a shorty, offers even less protection.  

A skull cab sold as a novelty helmet is exactly what it is advertised as: a novelty item.  A novelty helmet does not have the ability to absorb any impact, since it does not have a thick foam liner. Novelty helmets are easy to recognize, since the thin helmet sits directly on the head.

Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, for motorcycle riders may not seem cool or even be the most comfortable of items to wear, but PPE improves your chances of survival immensely in a crash.

All military personnel are required to wear PPE items when riding on or off post, and while riding on or off duty. Every person who rides a motorcycle on the Fort Leonard Wood installation must wear the PPE listed below:  

Helmet: A U.S. Department of Transportation, or DOT, approved helmet is the most important piece of equipment.  Quality helmets save lives by reducing the extent of head injuries in the event of a crash. Never wear novelty helmets as they provide much less protection since they have little to no padding to absorb the impact of a crash.  Full-face, DOT-approved helmets, offer more protection than any other type of helmet.   

Eye protection: Even the wind can cause the eyes to tear and blur vision, and good vision is imperative when riding. Choose shatterproof goggles or a helmet with an attached shatterproof face shield. Either should be well-ventilated to prevent fog buildup. A motorcycle windshield is not eye protection.

Jacket and trousers: Clothing worn when riding a motorcycle should provide some measure of protection from abrasion in the event of a spill. These should be made of durable material.  Jackets should have long sleeves. Trousers should not be baggy or flared at the bottom, to prevent entanglement with the chain, shifter or foot pegs.

Gloves: Durable full-fingered gloves can prevent mild to serious abrasions, cuts and possibly the loss of fingers in some crashes. They should be made with a non-slip material to keep a grip on the controls.    

Footwear: Proper footwear offers protection for the feet, ankles and lower parts of the legs. Leather boots are a great choice. Durable shoes that cover the ankle are a good choice.

Reflective material: A total of 75 square inches of reflective material is required for all military personnel riding on or off Fort Leonard Wood and for everyone who rides on the installation. Material must be seen from the front and the rear. If a back pack is worn, the material must still be visible from the rear. The average yellow PT belt meets this requirement, but should be worn over one shoulder, not around the waist, where it is less easily seen.  The best choice is a motorcycle reflective vest.  

Take a moment to share these important tips on PPE with every motorcycle rider you come in contact with. The life of a Fort Leonard Wood service member, family member, co-worker or friend may be saved by your knowledge .    

(Editor’s note: Information provided by the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Safety Office. Dietz is a safety and occupational health specialist with the MSCoE Safety Office.)