[2] While early motorcycle vests followed this approach, the technology has advanced: modern systems use a set of onboard sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope and GPS) that analyze the motorcyclist's movements .
An onboard computer uses this sensor data to predict the start of a crash and inflate the airbag before the rider hits the ground or a hard object.
The United States Team at the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010 planned to provide riders with air bag vests.
[6] At a competition in France held in September 2009, rider Karim Florent Laghouag was able to walk away from a fall in which his horse somersaulted over a fence with his only injury a dislocated elbow.
[4] Also, earlier work by Thollon et al. analysed the effectiveness of airbag protection for reducing thoracic injuries in motorcycle accidents.
[14] The lateral airbags proposed by PIONEERS and Ducati could have merit because it had previously been discovered "that crash bars provide a measure of protection to motorcyclist's legs, especially when the impact is from the side.
[18] But unlike the lateral airbags tested by Ducati in the PIONEERS study, these airbag-equipped jeans do not protect the lower leg and foot.
In short, “the motorcyclist falls from the motorcycle and onto their buttocks”,[23] and back protectors do not cover this area (although a very few include coccyx protection).
Afquir et al. argued that the design of back protectors needs a rethink, and this finding applies equally to airbags for motorcyclists.
[25] In 2021, PIONEERS research found that a more severe test (compared to the European standard) was closer to an actual crash scenario.
[26] Following a detailed research project funded by the Injured Jockeys Fund and conducted by independent test house SATRA in conjunction with the British Racehorse Authority, a standard was established for the use of airbag vests by jockeys, and an amended version covering the use of airbag vests for riders across all other equestrian disciplines.
Once a safety net reserved for the MotoGP elite, they’re now found in everything from standalone vests to adventure jackets, to bespoke leathers.
However, Italian company Airoh wants to take this a step further by integrating the explosive safety technology into a motorcycle helmet – revealing a striking prototype model at this year’s Milan show in early November.