There may be some regional variation in this but commenting on it from a UK perspective I've read (and heard) time and time again people saying they wear the full protective ensemble everywhere they go, all the time, and that anyone who doesn't is foolhardy, shortsighted and irresponsible. And in the middle of a UK winter I have some sympathy with wearing clothing appropriate for the conditions.

It's when the snow finally melts and the thermometer emerges from a block of ice that the problems arise. On a hot day is it safer to keep wearing winter grade clothing for its protective value and raise the risk of having an accident through heatstroke or "strip off" to maintain mental functioning and hope you don't have an accident ?

When I've spoken to many of the "safety first - keep it on" advocates hardly any of them have ever ridden outside the UK. They have no idea how hot it can get in eg southern Spain / Italy. You might be able to survive 20 /25C of the UK summer ok but 40C is a different matter. I have seen someone (a pillion) fall off the bike through passing out while wearing a full set of protective clothing in 40C heat. That's not the risk of an accident, that an actual accident. Back in my early biking days I had (mild) heatstroke the first time I ever went to Spain on a bike through continuing to wear UK appropriate clothing (black waxed cotton Barbour in those days). It took me three days lying in a tent to recover.

So what do I do these days? I strip down to a minimal safety level that I think balances the risks of overheating and the resultant risks from an accident. Very occasionally (I can only think of one occasion atm -freak day over 50C) it has been to shorts and t shirt. Anyone who says think of the gravel rash would get the reply of lets see how far you get dressed up in full armoured black riding jacket and trousers in 50C temperatures before you either colapse or hit something through impaired judgement.