A motorcyclist in Pasco County was killed after he was thrown from his motorcycle on U.S. 19. The Tampa Bay Reporter wrote about the incident.

The Spring Hill rider was thrown after he crashed into the back of a pickup truck. He failed to stop in time before striking the back of the vehicle. The incident happened around 10:30 a.m. on U.S. 19 north of Beacon Woods Drive.

The rider, an elderly gentleman, was killed at the scene. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Wearing a helmet is even more important than wearing a seatbelt while driving. Motorcycles have no protection from the forces of a crash. It’s all in the skill of the driver and his safety gear.

Motorcycle riders will tell you that it’s a matter of when, not if, you’ll need to lay down the bike to avoid a crash. The human head isn’t designed to handle the amount of force in a crash. If you wear a helmet, your chances of survival are much higher. You might still be injured, but you’ll live.

Another thing that riders can do is attend a motorcycle training school. These schools will teach you how to avoid crashes and how to crash as safe as possible if you need to bail from your bike. Consider attending one if you haven’t.