UK doctors say motorcycle air bag jackets could save many lives
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Dozens of motorcyclists’ lives could be saved every year if air bag jackets were made compulsory, accident and emergency doctors in the UK have said.
The jackets are the equivalent of car air bags and inflate if the rider is thrown off during a crash.
In one version, the jacket is attached to the bike by a lead which detaches when the rider has come off suddenly.
The Department of Transport said it had no plans for a new law but said it welcomed anything to improve safety.
Although motorcyclists make up just 1% of road users, they account for 20% of fatalities.
Figures for 2007 show that 561 bikers died on the roads.
Andy Parfitt, an A&E doctor at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, said: “There is a shocking number of deaths of motorcyclists on the roads. I think dozens of lives could be saved if these jackets were made compulsory.
Dr Parfitt, a keen biker, said: “There’s no question that what the jackets do afford is, they protect a motorcyclists’ vital organs, neck and spine over and above the level that a normal jacket would do.
“A majority of deaths in motorcycle accidents are due to injuries to these vital organs that should be protected by these jackets.”
There are different types of air bag jackets on sale in the UK, which cost up to twice as much as standard jackets.
One version, sold by Point Two, is attached to bikes by a lead and, if the wearer falls off, that triggers a small gas canister that inflates the jacket in less than one fifth of a second.
The spine is then held tight and the air bag protects the area between the neck and pelvis.
The BBC “Newsbeat” team of reporters gave one of the jackets to Rob Hunt, a stuntman for 12 years.
He said afterwards: “It just stops you from going anywhere. It’s tight. It’s protecting all around my ribs.”
“It felt as though I was picked up off the floor and I was on the air bag. It was just like gliding on air.
“It stopped me from rolling as well. It stops the bounce. I think it’s the bounce when you’re crashing at speed that hurts you.”
Well whats your opinion? Should airbag jackets be made compulsory? Leave a comment….
Reader Comments
The airbag jackets is an interesting concept. I had not heard of them before. Sounds like they could save some lives.
Here in the states it won’t do much good to require the jackets when most states don’t even require helmets to be worn. Requiring an airbag jacket without a helmet doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Here is South Carolina we dont have a helmet
law. You should see the accidents in the summertime,
its out of this world. More than half of the folks die
when someone screws up on a motorcycle.
I dont see how this could help someone who falls off
because 95 percent of the time you are going to hit your head.
Great Post by the way.
Here I go again,
I have a HitAir JP2 jacket, and used it a month ago when I low sided on gravel in a turn. It worked excellent. You don’t realize how eaven a little fall where your body weight is transfered to the pavement can screw you up. For instance my neck was wrapped instantly in a big pillow like cushion that kept my helmet from even touching the ground. And my back never touched anything but airbag. These jackets have armor as well so I had no injuries on my upper body. My lower body, which barely even hit the ground, had skinned knees and a sore leg.
By the way, even in a lowside, the jacket inflated as the bike and I became separated. In an airborne accident or a t-bone, it would simply save your life.
If you don’t wear a helmet don’t bother with the jacket, you are obviously willing to risk your life for short term pleasure.
Mike
The major problem isn’t with the riders who wear proper riding gear. It’s always going to be with those that just don’t bother.
Yeh Nice topic an d its true that air bag jacket are really affective for saving the biker life.
I think that is a great Idea..I think it would save a lot of people.
Police in Colombia used airbag jackets 4Riders brand, I bought a jacket online and I’m very happy, inflates in less than 200 milliseconds and its quality and design is excellent. By the way only cost me $ 250. The site is http://www.tech4riders.com