A few random thoughts:
-I’m wondering how many of that 80% didn’t/don’t wear a helmet in the first place? Or, to put it another way, were helmet-wearers a relatively small percentage of the head trauma cases? If so, the potential impact of this new design might not be all that great. (I don’t know the actual breakdown, btw, I’m just thinking aloud).
-Speaking of which, it *is* still a helmet. The riders I know who don’t wear now would still have the same objections - it limits sight and hearing. (Not saying I agree - I don’t ride - but that’s their position).
-Back in the mid 90’s, a Japanese firm was working on an airbag for sport bikes (i.e. “crotch rockets”). I don’t know how far they got with that project.
Honda does sell a model of the Goldwing touring bike with an air bag.
I’ve noticed that my fellow riders who think a helmet restricts vision, hearing or some other similar argument that makes then refuse to wear a helmet also tend not to be good riders. I’ve seen too many bike accidents — the ones with helmets usually complain about a ruined helmet while the helmet-less riders have their complaining days behind them.
Not a crotch rocket, but Honda intruduced the airbag on the Goldwing a couple of years back.
don’t much matter whether or not you’re wearing a helmet, at 90, the most likely difference is open or closed casket. but also you might ask, how many of the ones in helmets are wearing DOT approved helmets, and how many are the novelty helmets that don’t actually help.
and i love the idiots that use the “limited hearing” arguement, then get on a harley with open pipes.