I think that a lot of SS rider/drivers may react to the SS more as a car than a motorcycle and most other drivers on the road will probably react to the SS as a car.
I expect you will see people not wearing helmets and typical motorcycle gear. They may also not utilize the seat belts and other safety equipment and practices!
Safety conscious drivers will still wear helmets and use the seat belts, but the injury risk in a SS will definitely be high in a crash with a regular car, SUV or truck. Maybe not any more than a typical motorcycle but there definitely will be similar risks.
I feel the SS will be somewhat safer in general terms compared to a regular 2 wheel motorcycle, there will not be any issues with tipping over or common upsets that sometimes happen to 2 wheeled vehicles. A little gravel, oil on the road and similar issues that can be a problem for 2 wheels and will be much better in a 3 wheeler.
So in some ways in everyday issues the SS will be safer and it does offer some external protection in a minor crash, but in a major crash it will suffer.
Just like any other motorcycle, the driver and the attitude towards safety will be the driving factor in the safety of the vehicle. I think most motorcyclist moving to a SS will not have many issues, my fear is more the new drivers approaching the SS as a new sports car without the experience of motorcycling.
I have already seen posts about potential owners getting a motorcycle license just so they can drive an SS. So some car drivers are already looking at the SS as a new sports car! Those are the ones that I see as being a safety issue! The various state laws are not going to be up to date on something like an SS and people will stretch and misuse the gap in the laws to do unsafe things.
Simple things like can one buy insurance and own a SS without a motorcycle license? Will the dealer require you to show a motorcycle license to pick one up? If the law does not require a seat belt to be used on a motorcycle (most states don't) could you be ticketed for not using you seat Belt in a SS? Are the police going to stop a SS driver for not wearing a helmet? There are a lot of safety issues in play here and the drivers are the ones that will be in control of their own safety!
The driver will ultimately be the one to bear the risk of the Slingshot!
Good careful drivers with a years of motorcycle experience probably will not have many issues, the new car drivers with little or no motorcycle experience may have some problems!
I expect you will see people not wearing helmets and typical motorcycle gear. They may also not utilize the seat belts and other safety equipment and practices!
Safety conscious drivers will still wear helmets and use the seat belts, but the injury risk in a SS will definitely be high in a crash with a regular car, SUV or truck. Maybe not any more than a typical motorcycle but there definitely will be similar risks.
I feel the SS will be somewhat safer in general terms compared to a regular 2 wheel motorcycle, there will not be any issues with tipping over or common upsets that sometimes happen to 2 wheeled vehicles. A little gravel, oil on the road and similar issues that can be a problem for 2 wheels and will be much better in a 3 wheeler.
So in some ways in everyday issues the SS will be safer and it does offer some external protection in a minor crash, but in a major crash it will suffer.
Just like any other motorcycle, the driver and the attitude towards safety will be the driving factor in the safety of the vehicle. I think most motorcyclist moving to a SS will not have many issues, my fear is more the new drivers approaching the SS as a new sports car without the experience of motorcycling.
I have already seen posts about potential owners getting a motorcycle license just so they can drive an SS. So some car drivers are already looking at the SS as a new sports car! Those are the ones that I see as being a safety issue! The various state laws are not going to be up to date on something like an SS and people will stretch and misuse the gap in the laws to do unsafe things.
Simple things like can one buy insurance and own a SS without a motorcycle license? Will the dealer require you to show a motorcycle license to pick one up? If the law does not require a seat belt to be used on a motorcycle (most states don't) could you be ticketed for not using you seat Belt in a SS? Are the police going to stop a SS driver for not wearing a helmet? There are a lot of safety issues in play here and the drivers are the ones that will be in control of their own safety!
The driver will ultimately be the one to bear the risk of the Slingshot!
Good careful drivers with a years of motorcycle experience probably will not have many issues, the new car drivers with little or no motorcycle experience may have some problems!