More Safety Technology
14. Nov, 2008 
7 Comments
Recently the Nationwide Insurance Company saluted some developing technologies that might help make the highways safer for motorcyclists. One of two factors have been found to be the cause of most accidents between cars and motorcycles; lack of experience/training of motorcycle riders and awareness of car drivers about motorcycles. These are some new technologies that might make drivers more aware of motorcycles.
Blind Spot Warning Systems; this system triggers an alarm if a vehicle operator starts to make a turn while another vehicle is in the turning vehicle operators “blind spot”.
Lane Departure Warning System; an alarm is activated if a vehicle inadvertently starts to drift out of its lane due to an inattentive driver due to cell phone usage, reading the paper, tuning the radio, applying make-up, eating or rubber necking.
Forward Collision Warning System, this system monitors the distance between vehicles and activates a warning if the trailing vehicle is following another vehicle too closely hopefully preventing rear-end collisions.
Adaptive Headlight/Night Vision Systems, the use of infra-red headlamps or thermal imaging systems would give operators clearer recognition of objects at greater distances in front of the vehicle such as animals, people and motorcycles.
Hopefully these technologies can be further developed and adapted to a cost efficient state so that automakers will install them. But the HUMAN operator will always be the greatest factor whether an accident happens or not.
“Forward Collision Warning System, this system monitors the distance between vehicles and activates a warning if the trailing vehicle is following another vehicle too closely hopefully preventing rear-end collisions.”
I can see this being a real annoyance during x-way rush hour commutes. The cagers would immediately want to turn the system off. Thus, the likelyhood of the system ever being turned back on would be right next to ‘zero’.
“Lane Departure” and “Blind Spot” systems probably go right out the window for the same reason.
Note the “lack of experience/training” on the MC side of the comment. Apparently the cagers require no “experience” nor “training”. Cagers need only “awareness”?
Back in the day around here, a cager had to demonstrate some minor but meaningful car control to get a license. Getting one wrong on the written ‘sign’ test was an automatic failure.
Recently, I had to re-take all the written tests for my various vehicle classifications. While taking the ‘sign’ test, I noted the phrase, “Up to 7 (out of 21 possible) errors permitted”. Conceivably, a cager could miss 1-stop, 2-wrong way, 3-no u-turn, 4-RR crossing, 5-1-way,6-no passing, 7-your fav here. And still pass. While waiting in line to get my picture taken after passing the tests, I was joined by another biker. I asked him, “How’d it go?” Thus I hoped to draw him into a discussion of how any damn fool can get a license these days. He replied that it was very close. He said that he had missed 7 signs but passed because he hadn’t missed any more. I didn’t even want to know the guy after that. Which 7 signs do you think a cager doesn’t need to know? Which 7 signs can a biker ignore?
With testimony like that………. I sure wouldn’t question the name QuesyRider ! Ride safely all.
Well I can’t tell anyone enough about “More Safety Technology”. When I invented the best safety product for the power sport industry in the last 50 years and tried to market it still nobody knows it exists! After over 3,000 parts now used all over the world still nobody knows it exists.
I understand the rider safety courses are the most important the “newbies” can do to assist their safety on the road. Still I know old, young and motorcycles or scooters the brake system is the most important part of any accident whether it is avoidance or simple touring. Unexpected situations will be inevitable, My product named the TCB (Traction Control Brake System) is the only safety product that once installed it works forever.
Just like the disc brake as opposed to the drum brake why did the transition happen? As I understand it is a better brake system with one flaw, it works too good.
I mean with dual pistons, or dual calipers or vented rotors the disc brake will stop the wheel better than ever! This means that the wheel will lock-up better than ever causing an “out of control situation (especially up front where control is most important).
The TCB will actually automatically allows more wheel slip during hard braking than stock disc brakes are capable of doing. Like a shock absorber in a brake system the TCB allows prevention of wheel lock-up to allow a controlled stop.
Without boasting I consider the TCB the “missing link” to disc brakes, or an answer to retrofitting all years makes and models of vehicles not equipped with ABS (Anti-Lock Brake Systems).
So please someone tell me how to save lives with a product that once installed (in a few minutes) you don’t have to worry about buckling it up, or leaving it at home. Anyone can ride safer than before without having to purchase a newly ABS equipped vehicle just to earn the safety advantage!
Normally during a “panic” situation most maneuvers involve braking and not much more than a few seconds it seems to me I sure would like the control!
Please tell me your thoughts,
Mark Lipski; Inventor
lipskimark@yahoo.com
Driving tests where I live are ridiculously lax—both for cagers and mc. After moving I had to take the state driving “written exam”. The same rule applied here, a total of 6 questions could be missed and still pass. That concerned me, and after driving here for more than 15 years… I’ve realized I had reason to be concerned.
Let me clarify that there was no safety or actual driving exam for either 4 or 2 wheels! So not only are the cagers clueless, but the mc’s as well. Ride safe.
I’m for just about anything that makes riding safer. Innovations, inventions, instruction and drivers ed are all welcome because the life you save might be mine!
Driver education is where we need to concentrate. More gadgets or “safety systems” and technologies wouldn’t need to be developed if everyone was better educated and made more aware. Too many distractions are to blame for a lot of todays accidents and these “safety technologies” are only providing drivers with more distractions. Test them harder and make it to where only those that can drive well, drive at all. That’s the right answer.
To: Mark Lipski
Thanx. I didn’t know about the product.
Please contact Sam/IW and see if they will do a product test.