Hövding Introduces a New Airbag for Cyclists

Here’s good news for all those hesitant to ride their bikes in the city due to potential risks. This new airbag would offer safety up to 8 times greater than a traditional helmet.

This is the negative counterpart to the increasing use of bicycles and scooters in France; the number of accidents is logically higher. According to road safety statistics, nearly 242 deaths among cyclists are reported over the past 12 months, and 31 people have died while using a personal mobility device (PMD) like a scooter.

In most of these tragic situations, external elements such as cars or trucks are involved in accidents, but falls are also very common. And unlike motorcyclists, bicycle and scooter users are still reluctant to protect themselves effectively against falls. While it’s unlikely to see a cyclist wearing thick leather like a motorcyclist, wearing a helmet and gloves is already highly recommended. But if you use your bike or scooter daily, on shared routes with cars, why not opt for an airbag?

An accessory soon to be essential?

Few bike commuters know this, but there are already safety cushions similar to the Stan Inmotion, which takes the form of a backpack. Another innovation is credited to the Swedish company Hövding, whose airbag fits around the neck and deploys in 0.1 seconds in case of an accident. According to the manufacturer, fitted with a motion detector, it protects both the neck and head from the most severe injuries and would increase head protection by eight times compared to a standard helmet. Using Bluetooth connectivity, it also warns registered contacts and emergency services.

Such a technological marvel obviously comes at a price, as it costs 360 € to equip yourself with one.

Read also: This bike airbag deploys in the blink of an eye