Due to the continuing evolution of safety standards, high speed car-on-car impacts have made life better for everyone inside the cars. Now, even pedestrians get love from some car makers in the form of hoods that pop up when the car senses a pedestrian impact, so that the walker doesn't hit the engine block. Now, the Dutch Cycling Federation wants to know: what about us? The federation is asking for exterior airbags to protect cyclists in collisions with cars.In a country where getting around by bike is the done thing, the federation estimates that external airbags on cars could save 60 cyclists and eliminate 1,500 serious injuries every year. The airbags they have in mind would be mounted on the hoods, which is where cyclists usually end up.
In case you're thinking "There's no way...", the Swedish company Autoliv Inc. has created an air bag that deploys from the A-pillars and extends over the hood to keep people from crashing down onto the engine block. It strikes us as a bit nutty to think that one day our cars could turn into giant bubbles to protect everyone everywhere in an accident, but hey, if it saves lives....
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Aprime @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:45PM
I want cars to be airbags with wheels.
Everyone agree with me so we can get news coverage. :p
Rocketboy @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:11AM
Wheels are dangerous. We need airbags for wheels as well. But they can't spin, as you don't want anything to get tangled up in them.
jgp @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:45PM
Safety laws always kill car design. Look how the pedo safety law has made the front end of every European car look like some guy's arse.
Daniel @ Apr 22nd 2008 8:10PM
true but that argument isn't gonna help your cause :p
vdk @ Apr 22nd 2008 11:23PM
what do you appreciate more, your life or a car's design?
Smeagle @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:54AM
@ vdk: Is that a rhetorical question because I am seriously thinking about my answer...
Rocketboy @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:13AM
Pedo safety?
cycle freak @ Apr 24th 2008 12:20PM
Cars suck.. I hate them more than anything on earth.
They hog up too much road space. One idiot sitting in a car hogs up space for 3 people on cycles or 7-8 people on a public transport.
And not to mention the parking space required.
Plus .. is it carbon monoxide or CAR-born-monoxide?
Cars must GO ..... they really suck.. they are a curse on earth
nissanfreak87 @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:53PM
a few cyclists are worth keeping something sacred in auto design
Franz @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:55PM
While they're at it, why not ask for padded guardrails, utility poles, signposts, trees... or anything else they're likely to run into. Hell, even the road surface should be softer... they're gonna hit it pretty hard after bouncing off those airbagged cars. I dunno if any of you guys has ever fallen off a motorcycle, but it hurts like a mother and road rash is a bitch. Padded roads FTW!
nardvark @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:59PM
Or, they could wear one of those airbag jackets, thus putting the cost of this on the riders (where it belongs).
Ligor @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:30PM
hey, that dummy is not wearing a helmet,
rides should be required to wear them and they should also wear a airbag jacket
why are we increasing the weight of cars, now that the 35.7mpg haas been set??
Derek @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:33PM
It is not the bicyclists fault that the driver hit them, the driver bears the guilt so should bear the burden. Heck, it will probably save the driver on his car insurance premiums when he injures the cyclist less.
Cameron @ Apr 22nd 2008 11:24PM
Derek makes two good points.
nardvark @ Apr 22nd 2008 11:51PM
Is the $0.00005 discount on my insurance (amortize the cost associated with the small probability that I will hit a cyclist hard enough to incur medical liability over a 6 month premium) going to equal the cost of an airbag? Those numbers will never be equal. Airbags are crazy expensive.
By your logic, pick-up trucks should be designed with airbags that deploy on their bumpers so they stop destroying the heads of car drivers in side-impact crashes. But that's not what happens in the real world. Car drivers who care about not dying buy side airbags. Cyclists who are stupid enough to commute on busy American roads should front the money to protect themselves. They can take it from their gas savings.
Jason @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:42AM
@Derek: how is it always the driver's fault if they hit a cyclist? That's a pretty big ASSumption there.
Maybe cyclists where you live are more responsible, but around here I see people run stop signs all the times on bikes, ride without helmets, ride at night without reflective clothing or lights on their bikes, and generally disregard normal traffic laws that automobiles have to abide by. Shoot, most of the time when I see someone riding at night they're wearing dark clothing.
Disgruntled Goat @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:01PM
The only times I ever almost tangled with a bicyclist was when they almost hit me while I was driving my car. Well, a couple times while I was walking too. As a general rule, bicyclists don't obey stop signs, stop lights, or various other rules of the road. If you ask me they're a danger to cars and pedestrians alike.
SPG @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:59PM
Better ad some airbags in the trunks as somtimes people will ride in the trunks of cars.
Ben @ Apr 22nd 2008 8:05PM
Wow..the pillows..i mean airbags..look comfortable. =]
MajorGeek @ Apr 22nd 2008 8:06PM
Where I am I disagree and many I know feel the same way, but might be contrversial to some of you.
These "cyclists" ride on the line of the road, almost causing an accident when 2 cars try and go by. Yes, you can move over 2 feet and ride on the curb\grass edge, but no.... They pretend to abide by the laws by getting in the way at traffic lights, yet somehow they dont stop for stop signs and other traffic laws. They want the roads to work for them only where needed and frankly, it suprises me that more are not hit by moving cars considering cell phones, etc.