A new air bag system has been developed - for motorcyclists!

The D-air is a wearable safety system that deploys instantly if the rider takes a tumble.

Taking Italian sportswear company Dainese ten years to develop, the system protects the body areas of the shoulders, collarbone, and the neck, which traditional helmets and traditional bike-wear may leave exposed.

It works without requiring any type of connection to the motorcycle, instead having the entire system housed in a small unit on the rider's back.

If the biker comes off their ride, sophisticated accelerometers and gyroscopes detect sudden changes in velocity and orientation to the ground. When enough of a change is reached, the airbag will deploy in less than 40 milliseconds and hopefully save the rider's life.

The D-air was used for the first time during the 2007 Grand Prix race in Valencia, being tested by Marco Simoncelli in 250 cc class, Simone Grotzky and Michi Ranseder in 125 cc class competition.

And it was put to good use, as two of the riders actually came off their bikes during the competitive race. The slowest of the accidents occurred at 111km/h (70mph) and the fastest at 123km/h (77mph), with the air bag deploying effectively both times.

A company spokesman said: "The complete absence of fixed connections to the bike, the trigger system, the rapid intervention times, and the areas of the body protected all contribute to making a big difference compared to similar protection systems and signal a "technological leap forward" in providing people with dynamic sports protection."

Dainese say they developed the D-air for on-track use by professional racers or expert amateurs, but are working for version suitable for road traffic.

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Credit Story by Dean Murray