Polaris 2009 Victory Vegas - Manual (Page 17)

12
SAFETY
Safe Riding Practices
Protective Apparel
To decrease the risk of injury and increase riding comfort, wear protective riding apparel.
S
Wearing a helmet can prevent a severe head injury. Always wear a helmet that meets or exceeds established safety
standards. Approved helmets in the USA and Canada bear a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) label. In
accidents involving motorcycles, head injuries are the leading cause of motorcyclist fatalities, and statistics
prove that an approved helmet is the most effective protection in preventing or reducing head injuries.
S 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.
S You and your passenger should wear bright or light colored and/or reflective clothing to improve visibility to oth-
er motorists. A motorist’s failure to see or recognize a motorcycle is the leading cause of automobile/motorcycle
accidents.
S Wear gloves, a jacket, heavy boots and long pants to prevent or reduce abrasions, lacerations or burns should the
motorcycle fall.
S 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.
S 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.