In 2019 it is past time for motorcycle manufacturers and/or those in the safety industry to find ways to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents and reduce the severity of those that do occur. Thankfully, it appears that a major step forward may be on its way: Full body airbags. Keep reading to learn more about this new technology. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
Airbag for Bike is Seeking a Patent
A company called Airbag for Bike has announced that it is looking to secure a patent on full-body airbags. This could save thousands of lives if it were to make it to the open market. Many, many studies have shown that motorcycle accidents are significantly more likely to result in death than are car accidents.
There are a few reasons for this, most notably the additional protection drivers in cars have – including airbags. The company making these airbags has released a video of how their airbags work in the hopes that it can save lives throughout the United States.
The Way the Airbags Work
One of the main reasons that motorcyclists are more likely to be killed is because there is hardly any protection between them and the road. A car has a metal frame, seatbelts, and airbags. Airbag for Bike hopes to add significant protection.
It begins with the rider being secured into a seat with a seatbelt. If an accident does occur, the seat comes off the bike. When the seat does so, the airbag deploys and cushions the rider before they impact the pavement or other hard, stationary objects. This is accomplished using motion sensors and gyroscope technology that detects changes in momentum. If there is a sudden increase or decrease in speed or the system detects that the rider has lost balance, then the system is triggered and the rider is protected from impact.
Other Companies Have Attempted Airbags for Motorcycles
This is not the first company that has tried to make and market airbags for motorcycles. Even Honda has tried, but these past tries included small, pillow-sized airbags that deploy in front of the rider. While it may prevent or minimize some injuries, it does not help in major accidents that have the potential to kill the motorcycle rider.
For this reason, many in the industry are very excited to see this potential game-changer. The question remains: How long will it be until they are available or standard on motorcycles? The company is of course moving as fast as it can to get them tested, approved, and marketed. Keep an eye out for future announcements on when that may be.
