Automobiles and bicycles have a tumultuous relationship, to say the least… which often turns deadly for the cyclist.
Well, POC Sports a leader in cycling and snow sports safety, and Autoliv, Inc. a leader in automotive safety systems is looking to try to change the “deadly” part of that relationship. The two are teaming up in hopes to develop bicycle and e-bike helmets with integrated airbag technology that could help save cyclists’ lives.
Photo c. POC
The press release says that “head injuries alone account for half of the deadly cyclist injuries.” We already know that helmets are mostly beneficial to head safety if you were to crash on your own, but when a car is involved, things are different. A Swedish insurance company published a report that makes the case that “helmet absorption efficiency could still be greatly improved, especially when collisions occur with a car at speeds above 20 km/h (12 mph).”
POC and Autoliv are exploring the potential of using the airbag tech in helmets. The airbag, they say, would act as the initial energy absorber while the underlying helmet would be the secondary energy absorber.
On the inside.
After a pre-study has been conducted, Autoliv came to the conclusion that a cycling helmet with the inclusion of an integrated airbag system can “significantly improve protection and reduce the consequences of impacts to cyclists.” The study also showed that the combination of both absorbing technologies “enables a reduction of the peak linear head acceleration and significantly reduced head injury […]
Continue reading the original article at: bikerumor.com