If a Squid......

is the guy who dumps his bike in a river crossing, takes the time to get some photographs of his drowning motorcycle before getting it upright, only to return to his toxic spill bike and discover it wont start because the engine is full of water.

Okay, so while it always bothers me (and has for years- even before I knew anything about riding gear), at least now I know what's going on. In Alaska, there is no helmet law for the driver, but there is for the pillion passenger. I can only assume that these guys are carrying the unused helmet for their girlfriends (or simply hoping to get lucky). Doesn't make them any smarter, but it is something of an explanation. :)

I'd hate for a newbie to think that gearing up makes it okay to treat their neighborhood like a racetrack.

I think what's really behind squid discussions like this is correlations. It's not that gear makes one automatically safer, but rather that wearing gear often correlates with increased safety, both b/c it directly protects you, but also b/c it's indicative of a certain mindset.

I've seen utterly dangerous squids fully geared up, and I've seen masterful riders wearing cotton windbreakers. But they're outliers, and statistically anyway, not wearing the proper gear is positively connected with worse outcomes (one of the big findings of the Hurt and other reports).

To be sure, all of us to some extent compromise on safety (except for perhaps Eternal and Megaspaz, who I always think of as riding around in full leather race suits with the aero hump on the back), but there does seem to be a baseline for basic safety...I'm just guessing here, but I imagine what DMVs usually recommend for gear (which is pretty basic) is the level at which if you go below, you're going to have significantly worse outcomes.

I think for law enforcement, the decrease in safety by their lack of gear is compensated for by their skill/experience/training. There are probably many situations where we'd lose it and crash with injuries, but a motorcycle cop wouldn't.

I'd bet overall, law enforcement accidents tend to be much fewer in number than civilian, but with more injuries when they do happen.

It's not the level of skill of the rider that would be in question...I think an inattentive driver could change lanes just as easily into a skilled rider as a newbie, especially if it is a quick lane change to "not miss" an exit ramp...I'm sticking to my gear...if I have to take a tumble on the shoulder of the road, I would rather be wearing my gloves, jacket and full face helmet. The police around here wear gloves and a helmet, but just a short sleeved shirt on the hot days. As for the DMV requirements...a helmet is required, and they suggest pants and long sleeves...the only gear is the helmet.

Of course the rider training class advocates ATGATT, and enforces it...if you show up for the class without the gear, you are asked to leave...you can go get your gear and come back, but you can't participate without...boots over the ankle, gloves, DOT helmet and jacket (minimum jean, but recommend leather or riding jacket). They also recommend bringing rain gear, just incase...the courses run rain or shine...I was lucky!

Later.