Consumer Reports Motorcycle Safety Survey Finds Low Rates of Helmet Use

It isn't rocket science that wearing a motorcycle helmet protects you against serious injuries or death during an accident. However, a recent survey by Consumer Reports found that approximately 25% of motorcyclists do not wear a helmet while riding.

The Consumer Reports survey had a number of interesting findings.

• Safety still doesn't seem to be the top priority it should be for motorcyclists. Almost 50% of them admitted to never having taken a safety training course before beginning motorcycling.
• One in every 4 motorcyclists admitted to not wearing a helmet while riding.
• Only 50% of the motorcyclists said they regularly wore protective boots, while only 25% said they wore protective jackets.
• Less than 10% wore protective pants or dressed to be more visible in traffic.
• Worse, approximately 75% of the riders said they often wore short-sleeved clothing or shots while riding.
• However, the study also found that most motorcyclists had a good opinion of their own riding skills. Seven out of every 10 respondents said they were experienced riders.

Of all these results, the ones that Texas motorcycle accident lawyers would find most disconcerting is that 25% of motorcyclists thought it was okay to ride without wearing helmets. Traumatic brain injury is no laughing matter. There are very limited treatments for brain injury, and any damage that is done to the brain, cannot be reversed. The most doctors can do after an injury has occurred, is to prevent more injury. Motorcyclists who suffer from brain injury are looking at a lifetime of limited mobility, restricted abilities to take part in sports, go back to work, and those are the lucky ones.

Hat Tip: New Jersey Injury Lawyer