POC puts airbag technology into cycling helmets
Automotive safety systems developer Autoliv has worked with snow sports and outdoor equipment brand POC to put airbag technology into cycling helmets.
Head injuries account for half of deadly cycling injuries, the companies said. Helmets help, but a recent report by insurance company Folksam has confirmed that helmet absorption efficiency can still be greatly improved, especially when collisions occur with a car at speeds above 20 kilometres per hour.
After conducting a pre-study, an Autoliv research team concluded that a cycle helmet with an integrated airbag could significantly improve protection and reduce the consequences of impacts to cyclists. The combination of the absorbing technologies of the airbag and the helment enables a reduction of the peak linear head acceleration and significantly reduced head injury risk in impact tests, the research team said.
The pre-study also showed that protection improvements could be achieved without compromising the design, weight, or comfort of helmets.
