Possibilities for load reductions using garment leg protectors for motorcyclists: a technical, medical and biomechanical approach

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Otte, D.¹; Schroeder, G.²; Richter, M.³

Possibilities for load reductions using garment leg protectors for motorcyclists: a technical, medical and biomechanical approach

46th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM)

Affiliations

¹Accident Research Unit, Medical University Hanover, Germany

²Institute for Forensic Medicine, Medical University Hanover, Germany

³Department of Trauma Surgery, Medical University Hanover, Germany
Abstract

This study has considered demands placed on protective clothes for motorcyclists together with observed benefits and limitations for absorbing loads and preventing injuries. In this study, 1,933 accidents involving injured motorcyclists, collected by an in-depth investigation team at ARU-MUH, were analysed to find the detailed injury patterns comparing persons with and without protective clothes. The parameters influencing the force reduction are discussed comparing impact speed, elasticity coefficient and thickness of the materials used in special protectors. Additionally, post mortem human tests were carried out to find the effectiveness of such protector devices for load reductions in the lower leg. This study showed that loads, and the subsequent risk of fractures, can be reduced efficiently by foam-plate systems. Benefits were established for using a laminate of hard and soft materials for protection against soft tissue injuries both in the accident analysis and experimental tests.

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Cited By (3)

Year	Entry
2016	Albanese B, Meredith L, Whyte T, Gibson T, de Rome L, Fitzharris M, Baldock M, Brown J. Energy attenuation performance of impact protection for motorcyclists. In: Proceedings of the 2016 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 14-16, 2016; Malaga, Spain.507-508.
2011	Tunnicliff D, Watson B, White KM, Lewis I, Wishart D. The social context of motorcycle riding and the key determinants influencing rider behavior: a qualitative investigation. Traffic Inj Prev. 2011;12(4):363-376.
2015	Meredith L. Addressing the Gaps in Motorcycle Rider Protection [PhD thesis]. University of New South Wales; 2015.