We all understand that motorcycle riding will never be a zero-risk activity. Bikers constantly encounter a wide range of risks on the road. However, with changing times, these dangers have been mitigated to some extent with the advent of the latest technology.
In addition to the inclusion of enhanced safety features by motorcycle manufacturers, many third party companies are now coming up with highly useful rider protection accessories. These hi-tech innovations have certainly made biking safer and more enjoyable. Mentioned below are some of the most important technological advancements in bike safety.
Airbag Apparel: We all are aware of how airbags are used in cars to protect the driver and passengers during a crash. Airbag apparel is a wearable airbag designed to perform the same function for the safety of the bikers.
The electronic sensors present in the airbag apparel can detect when things go out of control before a crash, and deploy the airbag system. This system provides protection to the riders’ chest, shoulders, back, and kidneys.
Motorcycle Radar Systems: Radar sensors are already available for many cars. These systems help minimize driver error and provide assistance with different driving maneuvers. Many companies including Ducati are currently developing such systems for motorcycles, too. These systems will be able to help control distance between vehicles, assist with braking, provide a warning when there is a risk of a rear collision, alert drivers before they change lanes and monitor blind spots for other vehicles.
ABS (News - Alert) for Motorcycles: ABS or anti-lock brakes have been used in cars for many years, but this safety feature is just making its way into motorcycles. This highly important safety system helps adjust the brake-fluid pressure while in motion to prevent the wheels of the vehicle from getting locked during scenarios involving hard braking.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety informs us that riders using an ABS are 31% less likely to be involved in motorcycles crashes.
Improved Helmet Designs: Any biker knows how the design of helmets has changed over the years. Most of today’s helmets are made of stronger materials, have more aerodynamic designs, and provide more comfort to the riders. A large number of high-tech helmets are currently in the process of development. Some of these will offer mind-boggling features such as an in-helmet HUD, a 180-degree rear-view camera, etc.
Illumination Systems: The probability of motorcycles getting hit by other vehicles on the road can be reduced significantly by making the bike more visible. This is the exact idea behind the creation of the latest super-visible motorcycle lights. These lights are more noticeable compared to others because of their more optimal beam spread. Pulses of light are also sent out by different types of LED strobe lights to alert other drivers.
Stability Control Systems: These advanced biker safety systems help eliminate a common crash scenario by keeping the braking force within a reasonable limit and counteracting rider error. These systems can significantly reduce the probability of bike crashes, regardless of the type of terrain.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications: Vehicle-to-vehicle or V2V technology will soon allow the transfer of wireless data and communication between cars. This technology can also be applied to motorcycles. This simple solution may have a big impact on riders by keeping them well connected to the movement of traffic. Use of this technology will also allow riders to provide a heads up to other vehicles about their intentions, presence, limitations, etc.
Regardless of how much we try, it would never be possible to totally eliminate the probability of bike accidents. However, renowned car and bike accidents attorney David Abels strongly recommends all bike owners to make use of the high-tech safety features. A combination of all the technologies discussed above will certainly make our bike rides much safer compared to the past.
