The car bonnet airbag that will save bikers' lives

Have I missed the point? I was under the impression that a majority or car/bike incidents are where the motorcyclist hits the side of the car (Sorry Mate I Didn't See You). If this is the case then designing something that inflates when a front end impact is detected would not necessarily help. However, a step in the right direction, but prevention is always better than cure.

Posted: 24/04/2008 at 12:18

An airbag of that size would take a little longer than your wheelmounted type, would it not therefore act as a sprinboard of sorts cushioning the impact but propelling the impactee higher and further than otherwise?

Posted: 24/04/2008 at 12:39

they would of thought about that , no?

Posted: 24/04/2008 at 12:53

There was a program on Discovery, called something like Emergency Medics where a doctor drove out to a bike vs car accident.

Just like how the dummy is positioned on the picture above, the biker had his helmet/head stuck right through the window over the steering wheel, still fully conscious. It took a while for the fire brigade to remove him too. So at least in that instance it would've been handy.

Posted: 24/04/2008 at 15:10

I think somebody should develop a jammer device that you press a button and a radio signal jams the car in fronts Electronic Engine Management chip causing it to slowly decelerate and pull gently in to the left.

I would buy one of those.

Posted: 24/04/2008 at 15:15

surely the way ahead is for this rader distance detectors to detect folk on bikes at junctions . and punish drivers who pull out more

Posted: 24/04/2008 at 17:55

Somebody has lost the plot in sweden.  What next airbags on lamposts  fences etc  for  when you come  of at a corner to fast

Posted: 29/04/2008 at 11:44

In the UK i personally think on of the key issues is attitude. Until you can change the attitude to one where the concentration level is a lot higher there are always going to be the SMIDSY incidents, no matter how much technology the vehicle has. Eveyone thinks they are a great road user, its just a shame many are not.

Posted: 29/04/2008 at 12:28

This reminds me of a leyland research vehicle from the 1970s where they fitted this huge hydraulic arm to the front of a car that was supposed to catch people that had just been run over.

I think they called it the catcher.  I've been searching for a picture to no avail.

Posted: 29/04/2008 at 12:44

Burty - that sounds wicked. Are you sure you're not just remembering some pissed-up pub conversation?!

Posted: 30/04/2008 at 22:46

During June safety experts from all over the world attended the fifth International Experimental Safety Vehicle Conference, in London. British Leyland engineers and products took a prominent part.

One of their ideas is the "People Catcher", which is a low bumper (only 12 to 13 in. from the ground) combined with a wedge-shaped front to the car. A pedestrian struck at that point is tipped back onto the hood rather than being forced under the car or to the side. There is also a restraining bar actuated by impact sensitive sensors. The device was demonstrated on a modified sedan.

Jack Daniels, chief engineer of the project criticises U.S. Federal regulations which call for a standard bumper height of 20 in. Low bumpers, he says, are "crucial if pedestrians are to have a chance at all." In the U.K. pedestrian fatalities account for about 40 per cent of road deaths. In the U.S.A. they represent about 20 per cent overall, but about 50 per cent of fatalities in urban areas.

Valued Exposure: Model Hannele Ahovuori demonstrates the British Leyland developed Pedestrian Protection System at the Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne Parks, Berkshire, on a modified British Leyland 1300 car, June 1974. Photo: Roger Jackson/Central Press/Getty Images

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Posted: 30/04/2008 at 23:35

I think it is rather telling that they can fit such a device into the A pillar. Current crash regulations mean that this part of a modern vehicle is massive now compared to a few years ago. They can easily be four to six inches wide! Never mind a motorcycle, you could hide a bus behind an obstruction like that.

Time to rethink how often a modern car rolls over compared to how often they ram some unfortunate bugger hiding behind a pillar....

Screwd. 

Posted: 01/05/2008 at 09:50

Smart car though. They just don't build them like that anymore. British Leyland - conjures up all kinds of images associated with quality, reliability and longevity.

Posted: 01/05/2008 at 09:54