Airbags for people

A Japanese company has invented an airbag to prevent people from injuring themselves when they fall.

The airbag weighs 1.1kg and is built into an inconspicuous-looking waistcoat. If sensors within the device decide that the wearer has taken a fall, bags that protect the head, spine and hips are deployed in a tenth of a second.

The human airbag is designed for elderly people – almost 22 per cent of Japan’s population is over 65.

The use of airbags now extends beyond those built into the steering wheel of every new car; motorcycle clothing can now incorporate an airbag that protects the collarbone and neck, and car manufacturers have developed a system that inflates on the exterior of a vehicle’s bonnet to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Techno-fixes like air bags reduce casualty figures but do not make the roads feel safer – there is always a need for careful driving and low speed limits on urban streets.”

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What is the ETA?

The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.