A life size dummy has been used to test the response of fabrics and leathers in a simulated accident, in which the rider skids and falls off his machine on to the road surface. The results have been correlated with laboratory tests on the materials. On the road surface used, clothing materials-would require a breaking load of above 1200 N/50 mm wide strip, or a tearing load above 100 N when tested according to BS 3144, and an abrasion resistance of more than 10,000 revolutions of a Taber Abrader with H18 wheels and a 1 kg load, if they are to remain intact in a 112 km.h-1 impact. An exception is Kevlar fabrics which would have adequate strength to withstand 112 km.h-1 impacts if they resist 600 revolutions of the Taber Abrader. Major impact points like knees, elbows, hips and shoulders would probably need two layers of material to prevent injuries. No material or sewing thread would be acceptable if it degraded or softened when its temperature was very briefly raised to 3000C. Some cotton or Kevlar fabrics, and some bovine, goat or pig leather may be of adequate strength to prevent soft tissue injuries at 112 km.h-1; they certainly should at 56 km.h-1.