Is wearing motorcycle clothing mandatory?

Safety remains a major issue for motorcyclists

There were 51 traffic fatalities among motorcyclists in 2017. For cars, there were 201 occupant fatalities. There were about 650,000 motorcycles on the road and more than 8 million cars. This already shows that the probability of a fatal accident is much higher for a motorcycle driver. Of course, motorcycle clothing cannot prevent injuries to motorcyclists, but extra protection can sometimes make the difference between survival or death.

A helmet is mandatory, why not the special clothing?

That motorcycle clothing can be crucial for a motorcyclist and the rider on it is obvious, but why isn't wearing motorcycle clothing made mandatory? In Belgium, it is more or less already mandatory. In fact, there are requirements for clothing and footwear, and you must wear gloves. There are several countries where they have requirements aimed at proper visibility of motorcyclists. In the Netherlands, you can also wait for further regulations, especially with the high number of traffic fatalities.

What does the clothing cost?

Good motorcycle clothing is expensive. But with good online sleuthing, you can keep the cost as low as possible. You can get motorcycle pants for as little as €200 to €350. For a jacket, you should consider a higher amount, namely €300 to €500. A motorcycle suit costs about €450 to €700. For boots, you can count on about €100. Unfortunately, you are not there yet. You will also need gloves and sunglasses, for example, but safety above all.