Why are cars required to have airbags?

Question

I know the answer to that but I mean in relation to motorcycle safety. My car needs front and rear impact bumbers, steel re-inforced side beams, lap and shoulder belts, front and side air bags, safety glass etc. And a child needs to be in a booster seat until they're 80 or 90 lbs. Yet a motorcycle has no built in safety devices (aside from the operator), you don't need to wear a helmet (some states) and you can just strap your kid onto the back and say "hang on".

Without getting into an argument over bad drivers/cyclists, can someone explain this to me?

- The question isn't about why cars have air bags (read the first line) it's why are'nt motorcycles subject to the same department of transportation and government safety guidelines!

Answer 1

When you drive a motorcycle then you have to get a special license and take a special class. By doing this you have effectively signed a release form saying that if anything bad happens to you then nobody, but you is responsible for the lack of safety equipment on that motorcycle.

If you drive a motorcycle you take your life in your own hands. Since it was once legal to drive them and people owned them the DMV is reluctant to make them illegal. They try to make sure that people know how to drive motorcycles and are as safe as possible, but that is the limit to what they can do.

Tom Cruise likes to ride his motorcycle, however he can't do it when he is making a motion picture. The motion picture company's insurance company considers that to be too dangerous. If Tom Cruise is in an accident and production shuts down then that can cost millions of dollars a day. The insurance company will not pay for that, so they demand that Mr. Cruise's contact, for the movie roll, says that he cannot ride his motorcycle while he is filming the movie. He did anyway. This is also why movie companies don’t like their big stars trying to do their own stunts, which Mr. Cruise also does.

Recently, an American Football star was driving his motorcycle, during the summer, before the season began. He was riding without a helmet and had an accident. He messed up his leg and was put into the hospital. When the football team that had his contract found out about this there was a big worry that they would kick him off the team for doing that. He was doing something considered very dangerous and his professional football team could have canceled his contract for it. He got better, and was able to play that season so the team didn't cancel his contract, but you can bet they told him to get rid of that motorcycle or they would cancel his contract.

Answer 2

Motorcycles DO have to meet safety standards. It's just that the standards have to be different because they are so different from cars. Putting an airbag or seatbelt on a motorcycle would be a joke, and wouldn't do anything to improve safety.

You are totally correct in stating that the operator is the best safety device for a motorcycle. I've been riding for over 37 years and used to teach MSF courses. My training and years of experience enable me to avoid potential hazards with hardly a thought -- and to take instantaneous evasive action on the extremely rare occasion where I'm caught off-guard.

I won't get into a debate over the lack of helmet laws in some states, especially considering that those same states require seatbelts, booster seats, child safety seats, etc. Just plain stupid in my book. I'd never ride without my "brain bucket" -- I'm here today because of it!

Answer 3

Cars aren't required to have airbags - they're an optional safety item. It's mainly because people in certain countries (like America) refuse to wear seat belts and their airbags are much bigger than those in countries with mandatory seat belt laws. That said, airbags used in conjunction with pre-tensioning seat belts do reduce injuries and save lives - when properly used.

Honda has started production of a motorcycle airbag, but the jury is still out on its effectiveness...

Answer 4

In some countries, airbags are not required for cars, but it's a
safety option for those who want it. In case of frontal accident,
the airbag acts as a 'buffer' between the driver and the steering
wheel or windscreen in preventing head and facial injuries to the
driver. In addition, safety belts play an important role in preventing
the driver from head and body injuries in any accident.

Answer 5

Cars are required to have airbags so that we can survive an accident and get on withour miserable lives.

Answer 6

It all depends on who are you...people who really right Harley Davidsons genearlly aren't looking at the IIHS or the gov'ts crash test ratings in terms of stars as much as Honda Oddessy Soccer moms. That's why cars like volvos designed safety features like the 3 pt beatbelts. Everyone responible enough should worries about their own safeties and not put their lives at risk in a tradeoff with fun. However, the freedom we have allows us to make our own decisions to make us as happy as possible:) hope that made sense

Answer 7

Air bags arent mandatory but people like them as a selling feature. Typically part of the joy of riding a bike is that element of danger thats probably why theres nothing on a bike but i have seen that they are starting to make different saftey devices for bikes.

look at the clothing you have to wear on a bike a lot of countries make you wear a helmet, boots, gloves, special jackets. Not to mention a lot of the larger bikes also have side impact and fall zones so you wont crush a leg or what ever if the bike falls on you.

Answer 8

to protect u a little better when u are in a car wreck but dont let them say that and air bag is always safe because it not my husban was in a wreck and the air bag deployed and shot flames it burnt him is hand and all the way up his arm2 3 degree burns they said the only reason it did not burn is face is because of how he had his hand and was driving all cars r not required to have air bags just most of the new one are made with them just like seat bealt i have heard they save live but they also kill people like the impact is so hard there seat belt lock up when they hit the brakes and they go forwards and they bruise there heart and thats what kill them i dont know if it just because they dont have them on right or what but that is really i i could tell u about air bags a things like that

Answer 9

I think it has to do with cars being the major mode of transportation for most of the masses(people).... and with that in mind the auto makers have had many more rules/regulations put on them to keep the driver/passengers safer.
Motorcycles are still viewed as recreational and not the main mode of transportation for the masses.... they use to have the ads that said ride at your own risk.... maybe they need to bring those ads back ....hmmm?

Answer 10

Let's see now? Maybe for safety!!! Come on now!! Do you want to take a bite out of a windshield if in a wreck? Gee-wiz! This only gets better I guess!