We’ve all seen the video on Facebook about the Motorcycle Airbag with Ejection Seat Idea, but is it a smart idea or a really stupid one? AMERiders goes into that discussion to see what the answer might be.
Has ATGATT gone too far?
We all know riding is dangerous, but if it wasn’t would you still do it? Would it still be as much fun? This latest safety group is threatening to find out if they can render the sport of motorcycling less dangerous, and a lot of people want nothing to do with it!
Traveling a mile on a motorcycle carries a much higher risk of death or injury than driving the same distance in a car. US data combines all vehicle occupants in a trip to calculate the number of fatalities per vehicle mile; in 2006 US motorcyclists had a risk of a fatal crash that was 35 times greater than that of passenger cars, based on 390 motorcyclist deaths per billion vehicles miles and 11.1 car fatalities for that distance – NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis (2007).
Motorcycle airbag with ejection seat concept
How does the motorcycle airbag work?
According to their very lean website, “airbagforbike” is in the midst of developing a full-body barrier to keep motorcyclists alive in the event of a potentially fatal crash. “The Motorcycle Airbag deploys,” they explain, “only if the motorcycle is traveling at a certain speed and various motion sensors, gyroscopes detect a sudden deceleration, acceleration (if hit from behind) or loss of balance that would not be correctable by a human.” In the event that the algorithm triggers the sensors, a body barrier instantly inflates around the rider protecting them from the impact.
Thing is, the slow-motion video clearly shows that both wrists and arms would receive full, unprotected impact when the cushioned cocoon bounced toward its final resting place. There is also no indication how a rider would eject themselves from this body bundle, nor if they would have functioning limbs to do this.
It’s also not entirely clear that the compression wouldn’t crush the contents. Instead one must engage one’s imagination. That, or join the multitudes who would prefer to insult innovation.
I wasn’t a witness to the debates about supposedly stifling, blinding, cumbersome helmets, but it’s all-too-easy to guess that they were quite similar. Although there are still staunch lid-resistors out there, statistics and anecdotal evidence have indicated that many more motorcyclists have helmets to thank for surviving to ride another day.
People were asked if they would use it.
The concept has received mixed reactions on social media, with some being outright hilarious we pulled some out for you:
“Great idea if you’re going on a camping trip ! … have a few beers before you go, find your pitch on the site, pull brakes hard ….. Tada !!! You’re in bed” – D.B.
Another sighting concerns like:
“Easier for thieves to hijack your cycle.
Pull you off and you’re nothing more but a giant marshmallow whilst helplessly watching your bike being ridden away.” – V.T.
Many people think that it could actually be helpful if they can make it work. However, apart from the 3D animation video, there are not many details as to how the system would work.
On their website, the designers mention that they are looking for investors, engineers who can work with them to bring the idea to life. If that does happen, it could revolutionize motorcycle safety, and help prevent serious injuries during a crash.
Inventions are rarely perfect the first time around. Early adopters help work out the kinks so the rest of us can benefit from the failed attempts, and subsequent improvements, and isn’t that great? It’s incredibly difficult to understand why anyone who wants to improve or preserve the lives of riders would receive so much criticism, but they do. I, for one, am out here cheering on anyone that works on any quality of life idea safety or not. Although this one needs a bit of work first.
~And as always…
~Live Free Ride Hard~
~AMERiders
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