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Chapter 2: Moped Safety

One of the major questions on the mind of every first-time moped user is, �are they safe?� Unfortunately, there is no clear yes or no answer to this question. Clearly, a moped has features which make it less safe than alternative forms of transportation; however, it also has features which can make it safer than others. Finally, the rider has the ability to influence his or her relative safety in several ways.

The high speed capacities of true motorcycles, together with the lack of safety features available in cars, make them the most dangerous form of motorized vehicle on the road. The grim statistics for motorcycle fatalities have earned the nicknames �murder cycle� and �donor cycle;� indeed, prior to the implementation of mandatory helmet laws, the number one source of organ donations was the motorcycle accident.

However, the fact that these fatalities decreased so dramatically with the enforcement of helmet legislation demonstrates the capacity of the rider to influence his or her own safety. While moped riders are not necessarily bound to the helmet laws required for motorcycle riders, the choice to wear a helmet is the single most important safety decision a moped rider can make. Additionally, many riders of motorcycles, mopeds or motor scooters make it a priority to wear protective clothing while riding. These items include long pants, closed shoes, long sleeves and gloves. Many also prefer helmets with protective face shields; these offer protection from wind, insects and debris in the air as well as potential crash protection. Thick denim or leather is the material of choice for many riders for these reasons, and a large selection of clothing that is both protective and fashionable is available online and in many motorcycle-related stores and shops.

The main features which make both motorcycles and mopeds less safe than cars in some capacities include a lack of surrounding protection and fewer tires. Four-wheeled vehicles are naturally much more stable than two-wheeled vehicles and thus less prone to slipping and skidding. In addition to the metal frames surrounding passengers in a car, many modern autos also contain several airbags capable of cushioning a crash victim from almost any angle; clearly, neither mopeds nor motorcycles have this luxury. While motorcycles frequently offer a higher windshield over the handlebars and other forms of protection lacking in mopeds, the increased speeds of a motorcycle and freeway driving are two factors that contribute negatively to their safety in comparison to mopeds.

Another inevitable safety issue with two-wheeled vehicles is unfortunately not controlled by the rider, but by other drivers around them. Because of their smaller size and thinner shape, motorcycles and mopeds are simply harder to see from different angles and perspectives, and this makes them prone to accidents in normal traffic.

However, many mopeds, while technically street legal, follow similar traffic laws to bicycles rather than motorcycles. They are permitted in bike lanes, but not on freeways, and their reduced speeds make the safety of these mopeds more comparable to that of riding a bike on streets, rather than a motorcycle. Moped laws differ from state to state and it is important for a prospective moped buyer to consult local laws prior to choosing a model.

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