Airbag systems

The recent introduction of the airbag jacket aims to protect bikers' vital organs, neck and spine, over and above the level a normal jacket would. Statistically, the main cause of death in motorcycle accidents is to bikers' vital organs.

Most riding accidents end with rider and motorcycle parting company, with the bike making its own way down the road.

So it was decided that an effective airbag had to be mounted on the rider, not the motorcycle.   The aim is to cushion the initial blow when the rider hits the road and to continue to offer protection as the rider continues to make contact with the road, which can be for some time.

The airbag idea came to Kenji Takeuchi after he saw an accident in 1994, and by 1996 he had a prototype ready. Initially, manufacturers were not interested, but this type of protection is now being introduced and developed further. 

Wearing and operation are simple. In one type, the jacket is fitted with a ripcord that clips directly to the motorcycle. Should the biker come off, a small CO2 cartridge is triggered, inflating the jacket. Police in Japan wear this kind of jacket.

There are a number of jackets currently on the market, and companies such as Dainese and alpinestars sell full airbag suits. 

There's been some criticism of the airbag jacket, including the fact that you actually have to separate from the motorcycle before the jacket will inflate. If a biker were to have a slide out (low side fall), the jacket wouldn't begin to inflate until the rider had already hit the ground.

Manufacturers are starting to look into this, introducing sensors and various crash detecting devices to replace the ripcord. It's not known if and when these type of jackets will be introduced the UK.

Overall, however, there's a general feeling that these jackets and other modern safety devices are a good thing, an opinion shared by the medical profession, which is at the front line of dealing with the daily consequences of motorcycle accidents.
Rose Donoghue, partner and head of the Catastrophic Injury Department, said: "The purchase of good quality equipment is a must for all bikers.

"Unfortunately, accidents will happen, no matter how careful we are, and injuries cannot always be avoided. But good equipment can be the difference between a minor injury and one that's more serious, maybe even life-threatening.

"When acting for seriously injured clients, I often ask whether the outcome would have been different if their equipment had been better quality."

Tell us what you think

All documents should be read and used in accordance with the terms and conditions. This document is for your general information only and is not a detailed statement of the law. It is provided to you free of charge and should not be used as a substitute for specific legal advice. If you require specific legal advice please contact our helpline on 03700 86 86 86.

• Phone
• Online
• Post