Impact Jacket™ Saves Motorcyclist’s Life
Posted: Monday, October 15, 2007
by Stephany Springer
The hottest news in the motorcycle world is a safety jacket that inflates like an air bag when thrown from the bike or in a collision. The Associated Press is reporting that a Baltimore man would not be alive if it was not for the Impact Jacket ™.
Joseph McPhatter accompanied by two other riders was traveling inside the Baltimore beltway on Interstate 83 following the speed of traffic; he changed lanes only to be cut off by a driver who then hit the brakes. Mr. McPhatter plowed into the back of the car and was ejected 100 feet in the air hitting the ground at an impact rate of 140 mph.
According to the National Highway Safety Transportation Association, the increase in motorcycle rider fatalities from 2004 to 2005 as per the projections is 7.7 percent -- from 4,008 to 4,315.
I was really curious about how this jacket worked and searched google in an effort to find the cost, etc. I found a dealer website with video and other information. www.bikebone.com/page/BBSC/CTGY/AT
This is amazing to me. I have in-laws that are avid Harley Davidson riders. I cringe every time I watch them get on their bike without a helmet. My husband dreams of one day owning his own bike as well. I have a sick pit in my stomach every time he talks about it. They seem too dangerous to me.
McPhatter has a wife and three kids. Can you imagine being that wife having to explain to your kids that their dad had died? That has always been my worse fear.
I have to admit that I am intrigued about this jacket. The ones I saw online were around $150. This is an amazing invention that I think all riders should be required to wear. However, seeing how bad the debate is just to get them to wear helmets, this may be a lost cause. One thing is for certain, I am sure McPhatter was happy he had one on.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Stephany, thanks for sharing this information. As a motorbike rider I was very interested to learn of this type of protective jacket and hope to see something like this in Australia sooner than later! Regards, Ben.Ben, Thanks for the kind comment! I, too, hope this can help those worldwide!
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