you what?...you wanna make them compulsory?
Why?
I wonder just how many people will get off their bike after a ride and completely forget to detach the 'rip-chord'?
How much would it cost to get the jacket deflated, gas cylinder re-filled or buy another jacket?
How is looking like the Michellin man gonna save a life if your rolling down the road or caught under a lorry that cant stop but would not have caused
a problem if you weren't blown up like a balloon?
This reminds me of the days when they wanted to make leg protectors compulsory on all new bikes.. Many bikers could see accidents happening where legs
were lost or totally destroyed and amputated due to these protectors.
So, ok, there are some places and police forces that do wear these jackets, and in a way, they are a good idea, but it is not compulsory to wear
leather jackets, trousers, gloves or sturdy boots, but bikers do... it's common sense.
crash helmets are compulsory and many still fight for the right to decide for themselves.
I was at the rally in London to fight against the leg protectors. The rally was organised by MAG (motorcycle action group) and one such group has set
up a rather nice web site with a Chronology of motorcycle legislation,
thames-valley-region.mag-uk.org...
This jacket will work fine if you're just bouncing down the road, but if you hit, or are hit by moving/stationary objects such as other vehicles,
poles, lamp posts, buildings, barriers then serious injuries will still occur and no amount of inflated equipment is gonna help when an umpteen tonne
truck spreads you down the road for seveal hundred feet/yards
news.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)
edit to add;
MAPS motorcycle airbag protection system as suggested by this site is another idea yet for many bikers totaly defeats the object, feelings and joy of
riding a motorbike.
The MAPS Concept is to provide safety and protection for motorcycle riders by partially enclosing motorcyclist with a light-weight,
see-through, shatter-proof, airbag equipped, protection system; similar to a large broadened motorcycle fairing. MAPS may be attached permanently or
temporarily to new or older motorcycles and may also be towed behind the motorcycle. Airbags may be positioned anywhere within the system
ataque.net...
[edit on 14-2-2009 by Extralien]