Anicet Mbida 06:52, February 21, 2023

Anicet Mbida delivers to us every morning what is best in terms of innovation.

This Tuesday, he is interested in an invention that could prevent serious injuries to riders of two wheels.

These are jeans that inflate automatically in the event of a fall.

The innovation of the day should bring a little more safety to motorcycles or scooters.

These are jeans that inflate automatically in the event of a fall… Airbag pants!

It is surprising.

But what surprises me the most is that no one has thought of it before.

Because there are already vests-airbags.

Except that they only protect the upper body, so that in the event of a fall from two wheels, in 70% of cases, it is the legs that suffer.

Of course, it's not deadly.

But sometimes it can be very disabling.

Hence the idea of ​​airbag jeans.

They look like classic biker jeans (the ones that are reinforced so they don't tear when sliding on the pavement).

Except that there is also a gas canister which will inflate small compartments both at the hips and along the legs and on the knees, to cushion the shock in the event of a fall.

Then we'll look like a Bibendum with swollen thighs and calves.

But it really can be the difference between a serious fracture and a few bruises.

How is this airbag triggered?

Is there a fall sensor?

No, that would be too complicated to make reliable.

You can imagine: if you jump on the spot to stretch your legs, the system is triggered.

We let ourselves fall on the sofa on the way home, it swells.

So, it works with a cable connected to the saddle.

And it is only from a certain tension that the airbag will be triggered.

But don't forget to plug into the saddle.

Otherwise we will not be protected.

I said: it's surprising that no one has thought of it before.

But now, two pants-airbags are marketed.

The first for a few days by the French from CX Air Dynamics.

And the second, in March, by Sweden's Mo'Cycle.

And is it expensive?

Yes, enough: between 500 and 600 €.

But like all safety equipment, it will pay for itself from the first fall if it avoids going to the hospital.

Good news: the pants are reusable after a fall.

As long as the cushions are not pierced, it will only be necessary to change the gas cylinder to recharge the system.

Also note that we are talking about motorcycles and scooters.

But the technology could very well be used for riding and skiing as well.

We would thus have the legs a little more protected.