Abstract
Key Words:
Motorcycle, Safety, Airbags, Leg protectors, Brakes.
Abstract.
Within the EU there are just over nine million motorcycles and about 7500 motorcyclist fatalities annually, which accounts for 16% of EU road deaths. There has been much motorcycle safety research over the past twenty years, funded by the industry and governments with the aim to reduce the disproportionally high injury and fatality rates compared with other road users. For example, brakes have been developed considerably and the benefits can now be seen in most modern motorcycles. Other safety features such as airbags and leg protectors have received a slower acceptance. This paper reviews accident and injury mechanisms, then discusses some of these technical advances and suggests reasons for the different levels of acceptance.