Safety warning for bikers wearing shorts and T-shirts

Safety warning for bikers wearing shorts and T-shirts

Earlier this week, the force dealt with a collision in Green Street involving a car and a motorbike, where the rider was found to be wearing only a T-shirt and shorts but luckily sustained only cuts and grazes.

Inspector Andy Bisson, a biker himself and the head of the Roads Policing Unit, has said that many Islanders do not realise the injuries they can suffer without the appropriate protection – even at very low speeds.

‘Sadly, during this hot weather, I would say I see the same percentage of people wearing protective clothing as those that do not,’ he said.

‘It tends to be the less dedicated, serious bikers on mopeds but I did see someone on a big bike wearing sandals, shorts and a T-shirt the other day.

‘I think there is a degree of naivety involved and people do not realise how severe a motorcycle accident can be and do not think it will happen to them.’

Earlier this month, a motorcyclist who had been wearing shorts told the BBC about how his left buttock had been torn off after coming off his bike in Wales.

He is now undergoing treatment at a specialist burns and plastic surgery hospital. He also sustained serious injuries to his hand, head, arms and legs.

Inspector Bisson, who recently celebrated 30 years in the force, added that he had attended a number of incidents where riders had serious injuries from low-speed incidents.

He also said that many accidents happened while motorcyclists were carrying out more technical manoeuvres, such as navigating roundabouts at low speed.

‘I have seen incidents where a rider’s foot has slipped out at about 10 mph. They have dropped the bike to the side and they sustained muscle damage,’ he said.

‘Your hands are usually the first thing to go down during a crash, along with your ankles, elbows and knees, so to see people riding round in a T-shirt and shorts and not wearing any gloves just does not make any sense. I think if people saw photos of what could happen, then they would think differently.’

The long-serving officer added that he was personally in favour of changing the law to make sure that riders wore a minimum standard of appropriate clothing.

‘I think it would make a positive impact if the law was changed but there would need to be a balance,’ he said.

‘In some European countries, it is illegal to ride without your skin being covered. That would only be an absolute bare minimum but I think it would be better than nothing at very low-speed crashes.

‘When people sit their motorcycle tests, maybe they should only be allowed to do it if they are wearing full protective clothing.’

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