Protective Apparel - Victory 2009 VISION Rider's Manual

visionownersmanual.book Page 18 Wednesday, February 13, 2008 4:31 PM
SAFETY

Protective Apparel

To decrease the risk of injury and increase riding comfort, wear protective riding apparel:
• Wear a Department of Transportation (DOT) or SNELL approved helmet. Some state laws
require that you wear an approved helmet. In accidents involving motorcycles, head
injuries are the leading cause of motorcyclist fatalities. An approved helmet is the most
effective protection in preventing or reducing head injuries.
• Wear eye protection. Some state laws require that you wear eye protection. Eye protection
reduces the chance that your vision could be impaired by wind or by airborne particles
and objects.
• You and your passenger should wear bright or light colored and/or reflective clothing to
improve visibility to other motorists. A motorist's failure to see or recognize a motorcycle
is the leading cause of automobile/motorcycle accidents.
• Wear gloves, a jacket, heavy boots and long pants to prevent or reduce abrasions,
lacerations or burns should the motorcycle fall.
• Wear boots with low heels, as high heels can catch on pedals or footrests. The
combination of boots and pants should completely cover legs, ankles and feet, protecting
skin from engine and exhaust system heat. The engine and exhaust system get hot soon
after the engine is started and stay hot for about half an hour after the engine is turned off.
• Do not wear loose, flowing clothing or long boot laces, as they can catch on handlebars,
levers or footrests, or become entangled in the wheels, causing loss of control and
serious injury or death.
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