Inceasing Motorcycle Safety?
According to an arcticle on CNNMONEY, Honda recently released a report in Tokyo saying that they were planning on equipping their large touring motorcycles like the Gold Wing with airbags. They stated that the airbag would significantly decrease the number of fatalities and serious injuries, due to evidence that most fatalistic accidents occur in frontal collisions. Despite certain hurdles, Honda plans on putting the airbags in more models in the future and also plan to introduce the motorcycles in Japan and Europe.
How will this increase in technology effect the motorcycle industry? If the airbag proves to be successful at reducing injuries, and more companies equip their bikes with them, will we see more bikers? Or will this be a negative impact by making the drivers feel safer than they really are, and consequently increase the fatalities we see on our highways?
1 comment:
Daren raises an interesting possibility that safety devices required by the government for motorcycles and cars may lead to a false sense of security and, consequently, an increase in careless driving. I think it was the economist Gordon Tullock who suggested that the best way to reduce head-on collisions in cars is to mount a sharp spear on the steering column of every car. The possibility of impaling yourself would surely lead more careful driving and fewer traffic deaths. Of course, Tullock was only joking. His main point was for us to think about the value of added safety--how much safety is enough? What price are you willing to pay for safety?
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