Airbags for motorcycles: a new development in safety technology
Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. is taking advantage of its safety system technology to begin full-scale development of motorcycle airbags, applying the airbag technology it has cultivated for automobiles. Aiming to bring this new technology to market as soon as possible, the company will conduct actual vehicle collision tests at its own facilities in 2025. Based on the test results, the company aims to create motorcycle airbags with even higher protective performance.
360,000 Motorcycle Accident Deaths, Urgent Safety Measures
The reason Toyoda Gosei is focusing on this technology is that motorcycles account for a significant proportion of global traffic fatalities. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2021, approximately 360,000 people lost their lives in traffic accidents involving motorcycles and tricycles, a large proportion of the total. In response to this situation, the company has adopted the philosophy of “delivering safety to all who travel,” and is working to develop occupant protection technology for all forms of mobility, including motorcycles.
Specially designed airbags that function in limited spaces
The introduction of airbags to motorcycles poses different challenges than for automobiles. First, the installation space is extremely limited. Second, the open structure of the vehicle makes it difficult to protect the entire body with an airbag alone. Toyoda Gosei’s latest crash test examined how airbags deploy and how they support the rider’s body in the event of a frontal collision. The results of the test will be used in future development to further improve performance.
Towards continuous development that combines simulation and actual driving
Toyoda Gosei will not treat this test as a one-off, but will establish an ongoing verification system. In addition to physical testing using actual vehicles, the company will utilize simulation technology to verify protection mechanisms that can respond to a wider variety of accident patterns and driving environments. Motorcycle accidents in particular are complex, depending on factors such as speed, road conditions, and the angle of contact with other vehicles, so a multifaceted development approach is essential.
While future mass production and commercialization of the technology will pose challenges such as compliance with safety standards and cost, Toyoda Gosei is prepared to tackle all of these head-on. In today’s world where mobility is becoming increasingly diverse, the spread of safety technology, not just for four-wheeled vehicles, will lead to peace of mind for society as a whole, and this initiative is the fruit of that belief.
