It’s no secret that riding a motorcycle can be dangerous. According to the World Health Organization’s latest report on road safety, motorcyclists made up 28% of global deaths as a result of road accidents. However, significant strides forward in technology are set to make riding a motorcycle both smarter and safer.
Read on to find out more about a few measures that have been designed to do exactly that.
Adaptive cruise control
Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles can be difficult when traffic is heavier. It requires constant attention and even a momentary lapse in concentration can result in an accident.
With adaptive cruise control, motorcycles will be able to adjust their speed based on traffic conditions, reducing the likelihood of rear-end crashes.
Even you feel like such a product gives you greater protection while out on the roads, it will still remain important to make sure you have the best motorcycle insurance for your needs.
Blind spot detection
It can feel like you need eyes everywhere when you take your bike on a busy road. Blind spot detection uses sensors to do that for you.
If you attempt to change lane and a vehicle is sensed to be nearby, you’re alerted to that by a warning light – usually on your wing mirror.
In October 2020, Ducati announced the production of the first motorcycle to use front and rear radar technology had begun.
But you might not have to get a new bike to benefit from blind spot detection, with aftermarket solutions set to launch in the near future.
Emergency call systems
A feature in passenger vehicles for a number of years already, emergency call systems – also known as eCall – automatically send out an alert in the event of a crash.
In the EU, all new cars must be equipped with eCall, but the case is not the same for motorcycles.
For those still keen to benefit from such a system, Bosch have developed Help Connect. This programme uses your smartphone’s sensors and an algorithm to detect your accident and trigger an emergency call with Help Connect.
A member of their team will receive your location and accident data and contact the local emergency services in the event of a serious accident. If the incident is deemed minor, they will call you and discuss your options.
It works across 11 countries, including the UK and Ireland, and is available for just €39.99 per year.
High-tech helmets
Augmented reality (AR) technology has already been widely embraced in the car industry on heads-up displays and could soon make the jump to motorcycles.
LiveMap plan to develop a helmet that projects images onto the road ahead, allowing riders to navigate their route without taking their eyes of what is in front of them.
The images are designed to be clear in all conditions and could also display other parameters like speed, time and date.