It will be a wild and crazy week as thousands of people roar into Daytona Beach for the 75th annual Bike Week, but experts said safety should be taken just as seriously as tailpipes and saddlebags.

According to a study released by AAA, Florida is No. 1 in the country for motorcycle fatalities.

The study also concluded about one-third of motorcyclists (32 percent) don't believe they should be required to wear a helmet while riding their bike. One in seven drivers don't wear them, according to the study.

"Make sure you're wearing the right gear," said Raphael Vega, a motorcycle instructor. "You can't predict when you're going to fall. It's going to happen. We got other schools telling you you're not going to fall. We (have to) look at physics."

Vega has been teaching others to ride for the last nine years and said riders need to develop a sense of personal responsibility.

"You (have to) pay attention to everything around you," he said. "And today, we get a lot of guys and girls that take that for granted. They feel that they're invincible (because) they're on two wheels and they’re faster."

AAA detailed the top pieces of safety gear for riders in the following list:

  • Helmet 
  • Face Shield or Glasses
  • Boots 
  • Gloves 
  • Jacket or vest with protective armor 

In terms of motorcycle fatalities, Florida Highway Patrol officials said it's about 50-50 in terms of those wearing or not wearing helmets. Other drivers on the road need to remember to share the space, as well.

"For drivers, take that second look before you pull out from a side street," said Sgt Kim Montes, of the Florida Highway Patrol. "Before you make a left turn at an intersection, look for that motorcycle. That's the type of crashes we see when a motorcycle is involved, and it can be deadly for that motorcyclist."

In the last 10 years, motorcycle ridership has grown — from 800,000 riders in Florida to more than 1.5 million. Bike Week brings in even more motorcyclists from around the country and the world.

Biketoberfest in October had no fatalities, but it is about a third of the size of this week's event. Montes said she hopes that extra patrols will keep motorcyclists safe.