Protective Gear: Free Choice or Compulsory?

[.....]

Inspired by a thread over on Visordown and Here on BCF I thought I'd bring up this old chestnut.

Do you think the wearing of protective gear should be down to the individual or made compulsory by law?

We already have a helmet law so why not go further and make it compulsory to have approved jackets, trousers, boots and gloves to be worn at all times. Each of these items meeting a certain standard much in the way a helmet has to meet a standard? This would probably save a few lives each year.

Or do you say 'Screw that - I'll comply with the helmet thing but going further is just too much. If I want to ride in just my Y-fronts then I will'?

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I think it's too nanny state. I personally wouldn't ride in anything less than jacket, boots, gloves and back protector.

If others want to take the risk and ride in t-shirt, shorts and flip flops it's up to them.(seen it done)
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[dainesefreak]

I'd say we have got to have freedom of choice, although the government could remove tax from protective gear to promote it's use.

Personally I always ride in full leathers because I'm either commuting or going out for a ride knowing I'll be fairly committed.

[palmer]

I think it should be up to the rider.

too many days where full kit, for popping down the the shops would just be awful, like the 30degree+ heatwaves we get.

I would never realy ride a bike without at least a jacket,gloves,helmet and more than likely boots. The only times i rode in a shirt was in town when i stayed the night at a mates, and we went down to the gym the next day. awsome weather, little traffic, fairly low speed. was an awsome feeling, the sun beating down, but a nice breeze. i found myself riding alot more careful than if id been in a jacket etc.

aaanyway. i dont think it should be compulsary, just advisory

[bazza]

Last summer, I was riding to and from work in bike gear without jacket, just a polo shirt. Great, it was. By the end of the week I had suntanned arms and white hands. Looked like I'd been washing them in bleach...

Still if I'd come off, I would have been on BCF like a shot asking if I could sue the shirt manufacturer for negligence...
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[mchaggis]

The helmet law is certainly useful for identifying twocers.

I saw a thieving cunt in a tracksuit with no helmet, a hoody tight round his face, beanie hat and bandana up to his eyes ragging a Yamaha dirt bike today while waiting for the bus. (It came down the dual carriageway one way, did a quick U-turn at the lights and pissed back of whence it came).

A few minutes later, a cop car comes flying up the road after him with the blues and twos on.

I just hope the bastard got caught and gets crucified. (I caught four neds trying to steal my GPZ last week, it is still inside the house while I sort out replacing the ignition. )
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[ncrn]

It shouldn't be compulsory, it should just be advised, 99% of the time I'm on my bike I have my gear on, but every so often when I'm just going up the road I might decide not to wear all my gear, its a risk, but so is getting on the bike in the first place.

Part of me isn't even sure that helmets should be mandatory, mostly because I think we are interfering with darwinism.
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[Rookie]

I've ridden the bike with shorts and sandals on, it scared the crap out of me but I chose to do it. It's all about risk - if people choose to take the risk of riding without jacket/gloves/whatever, then they can do. They also choose to take the risk of riding a bike in the first place, so really if people were forced to wear protective gear, the government had better force people to not ride bikes as well.

[Vincey B]

Another idea might to use insurance, ie to be cheaper for people who opt to wear full gear all the time, as it would possibly reduce the number of and cost of personal injury claims paid out by all insurance companies where bikers are involved in accidents.

Not really thought out how it would work, but cheaper premiums would at least make people who wear their gear day in day out feel a bit better!

[Keen]

One thing I've noticed is just how culturally influenced attitudes to bike gear are. I think internationally British riders are the most safety conscious and wear alot more gear than anyone else.

In Florida there aren't even any helmet laws, I found that most bikers didn't wear any form of protective clothing whatsoever. Guys zipping along on sports bikes wearing literally only trainers, shades and a pair of shorts was a normal sight. Given the heat, leather and heavy armour is almost impossible. You'd pass out.

In France, open face lids are more common than full face basically because people think they look retro and cooler. People wear hardly any gear, I never see anyone wearing protective footwear and hardly anyone wears gloves. Only serious bikers on bigger cc bikes wear proper jackets and gear, and even then I think its more about looking cool.

Stupid thing is I found it affected me. In the UK I would never dream of going out without at least lid/gloves/jacket/decent boots. In Florida, by the end I made occasional trips without a lid (usually because I gave my lid to the pillion when giving lifts). In France I rode alot with nothing more than gloves and a helmet. The weather plays a big part but I think I was also influenced by everyone else around me, it adjusts your perception on whats safe.

In that sense, its good that the UK has such a safety conscious view on wearing protective gear. Also even though everyone bitches about the weather, at least it makes it easier to get wrapped up in nice thick protective clothing. Not saying it would be good to make it law, I'd hate that, I'm saying that a better way would be just to keep strengthening the already good attitude UK riders have towards wearing proper clothing
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[JonB]

Let people learn from their mistakes.

Don't nag the populace into doing something that some believe will be un-necessary.

If the helmet law wasn't here, I would still wear one everytime. Just like I am considering back protection but am still sitting on the fence regarding the positives and negatives.
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[bazza]

[0ddball]

Imo it should be completely free choice, including the helmet. I'd still wear my gear most of the time but it would be nice to have a run about on a hot summers day with no gear at all.

[instigator]

Let people make their own decisions. Just don't throw a wobbly when someone like LukeVFR rides about in trackies. It's wasting your time, you know fine well he'll be mangled inside a lorries wheel arches soon.

Helmets are fine though. That's a good law. Imagine scraping up the contents of someones head as a roadside worker. Eeeww.

[Mjolnir]

I would be firmly of the opinion that wearing safety gear should be totally up to the individual if it were not for the cost of medical care and the work put in by hospitals.

People should be aware of the consequences of their own actions and should deal with the results themselves if they do something stupid.

My problem is that I don't think there should NEED to be a helmet law or a seatbelt law. I'd wear one anyway. Evolution has always provided the abilities to cope in situations. These days people are changing the world to fit in with them instead of adapting to fit in with the world around them.

This becomes a problem when stupid people become too prevalent. Somebody hurts themself and its always somebody elses fault. People claim for the slightest thing nowadays. You trip up? Watch where your going for a change.

If strawberry flavoured bleach were released tomorrow there would be a massive amount of people taking the company to court to claim damages for the loss of the use of their intestines when everybody knows you don't drink bleach.

mmmmmm... strawberry flavour

[veeeffarr]

With compulsory gear we'd probably see better standards and enforcing with regards to body armour and abrasion resistance.

Wouldn't affect me compulsory kit wearing because I always wear kit anyway.

As I said, may lead to an improvement of kit standards so I say compulsory.

[Marci]

Let people who are OLD enough to make their own decisions and be responsible for them decide for themselves. Anyone else, force em.

eg: Make it compulsory for under-18s to wear safety clothing - lids, boots, & gloves at least.

Too many L-plate 16yr old wonders my way can be seen hurtling up and down residential streets at excessive speeds, practicing wheelies and stoppies in jeans, t-shirt and helmet and that's it.
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[doggone]

[.....]

6 people have voted for it to be compulsory but not backed up their views. Anyone?

[dainesefreak]

Looks like Toby is about the only one who's put any reasoning behind his compulsory statement. Everyone else think they are going to get too much flak?

[Marci]

I voted compulsory and gave my reasons... s'just mine is compulsory for a select group, and there was no option to vote for such, so selected Compulsory.
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[_Will_]

[quacker_boy]

Hmm.

Tough one. I always wear a helmet, regardless, but i will not deny the fact that 99% of the time i'm riding the XR400 or the Kawasaki 250 i simply wear jeans and shirt. (The snowboard jacket comes out at night at this time of year though.)

Reason being i KNOW falling off at 80 kmh off an XR is no different to falling off at 80 off, say, a CBR-RR. I know i will more than likely get fucked up beyond recognition, but my argument is that it's simply too hot for anything else.

Now, throw a 600/750/1000 cc sports bike into the equation of your choice and my preference to gear wearing becomes a little different. The one piece leathers come out as zooming along at 200 kmh + keeps me cool apart from when i stop at the lights. I don't wear boots or gloves as i'm flat broke and simply can't afford any.

In the accident i had last year, my hands got knackered to fuck from road rash, but the entire rest of my body was spotless.

I'm not entirely sure where i'm going with this, just that if a leather suit was available that could keep me close to ice cold i'd wear it all the time of the XR and Kawasaki.
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[veeeffarr]

[DEN MONKEY]

Only a have to under a certain age.

Nothing makes my blood boil more than a guy with his kid on on the back wearing shorts and a shirt.
Saw it just the other day.
Young girl of maybe 8 with no protective gear on at all bar the helmet.
Wanted to give the guy what for.

Perosnally Im geared up all the time and won't let anyone on back unless they are too.
Helps that I have a few sets of gear though.

My best stuff goes to my pillion first.
By the way I only pillion girlfriends. So it makes sense.

Most precious cargo you can carry on the back is someones life.
You have the responsibility to take due care and precautions.
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