Bikes ‘to be fitted with safe driving aides’

[Bob]

Motorcycles could be fitted with safety systems that create a ‘bubble of awareness’ around the rider within two years, says a UK research body.

The Motor Industry Research Association (Mira) is undertaking research on how to apply these (Saferider) systems to bikes and how best to alert riders of potential hazards. The systems tested include warnings about speed limits, the tightness of road bends and information about other vehicles to aid lane-changing.

"Saferider takes the driver safety systems that are becoming standard on cars and tries to adapt them to the unique needs of motorcyclists," said Jonathan Moore, an advanced engineering consultant at Mira. "One of the most difficult things is getting the rider's attention," he said. "There's a high level of ambient noise and vibration to deal with."

To deal with this, Mira has been investigating the use of tactile warning systems. “There's a high level of ambient noise and vibration to deal with. We put a motor in the cheek pad of the helmet so if you do not notice the object it will vibrate and give you a tactile warning that there's something to the right or left."

[chasio]

There's an article on BBC News as well. Sounds really cheap and effective.

Or perhaps not.

[Bob]

Can you imagine all the blasted beeps as it sends warning after warning? And who defines what is too fast into a corner?

[Gremlin]

And who defines what is too fast into a corner?

If its anything like the warning signs that use radar into some corners here... its your local nana. Getting a blast of from the radar detector as you crest a hill before a corner isn't that much fun either.

Biggest thing is... how will it know you've seen something? I don't need to turn my head and examine something for a minute before knowing its an issue...

[slofox]

Bikes ‘to be fitted with safe driving aides’


What, like a big chain through the back wheel? That'd stop those speedsters...