If you’re over the age of fifty you probably recall when people routinely drove around without using seat belts, and children were often free to roam around the family station wagon with no car seats. Thankfully we have become better educated about seat belt use and advanced technology has created several systems that help protect us without even thinking about them.
Probably the most profound advancements have come in the form of airbags. You might be surprised that the first person to apply for a patent for automobile airbags did so in 1952, they were not standard equipment until 1990 when Ford put them in all their passenger vehicles.
The first recorded accident between two vehicles in which an airbag deploys to protect each driver occurred on March 12, 1990.
Today we enjoy the extra protection of many more airbags all over cars, and other safety features like anti-lock brakes and sensors that can automatically stop our cars if they are about to crash.
All this is great, but what about our friends who ride motorcycles? The National Transportation Safety Board is tackling the issue and a new report is out with recommendations. The report is focused on two targets: (1) adding high-tech safety features to motorcycles and (2) adding systems and features that will allow automobile drivers to better “see” motorcycles. We know that the number one cause of motorcycle accidents is when a driver turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle.
Hopefully, making anti-lock brakes standard on motorcycles, adding better stabilizing systems, and implementing technology so auto drivers can anticipate the presence of a motorcycle when entering or crossing a road, making a turn or changing lanes, many high-risk traffic situations will reduce crashes and serious injuries.
Some motorcycles are being offered for sale with airbags, and while that may seem impractical, they are working.
Finally, the NTSB report recommended that the use of alcohol by motorcyclists be further examined because drinking and driving in motorcycle accidents is disturbingly high. We ask everyone to please refrain from drinking and driving or texting while driving. Uber makes it much easier and much safer for those who have a problem with this. Please use them.
Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
We have been helping victims of motorcycle accidents for over 25 years and the numbers of serious injuries and deaths is way too high. Please ride safely and if you are hurt in an accident we can probably help. Call us at 954-356-0006 and we’ll listen.
Here is a link to the preliminary report by the NTSB: Select Risk Factors Associated with Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
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