There have been a lot of improvements to motor vehicles to reduce the risk of injury to the occupants. Improvements like headrests to prevent whiplash, then seat belts and radial tyres were early additions. Now the list of protective devices seems endless.
Anti-lock braking
Electronic stability control
Collapsible steering columns
Tyre pressure monitors
Seatbelt pretensioner
Lane departure warnings
Active rollover protection
Daytime running lights
Traction control
Front airbags
Side curtain airbags
Head and thorax airbags
Driver's knee airbag
Finally there is an airbag for the people on the outside of vehicles. Cyclists and pedestrians.
"Thursday, November 8 saw a successful demonstration of a special cyclists airbag at the Automotive Campus in Helmond. This airbag is the result of a study commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment and the Dutch Cyclists' Union to improve the safety of vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. Under considerable interest from international audiences, including several car manufacturers, a car equipped with the airbag hit a crash test dummy on a bicycle at 40 miles per hour. The airbag activated successfully so that the head and torso of the dummy were properly protected." (TNO company website)
Thanks to Amsterdamize for the link.
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