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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Air bag jacket 'could save lives' | Air bag jacket 'could save lives' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Dozens of motorcyclists' lives could be saved every year if air bag jackets were made compulsory, accident and emergency doctors have said. | Dozens of motorcyclists' lives could be saved every year if air bag jackets were made compulsory, accident and emergency doctors have said. |
| The jackets are the equivalent of car air bags and inflate if the rider is thrown off during a crash. | The jackets are the equivalent of car air bags and inflate if the rider is thrown off during a crash. |
| In one version, the jacket is attached to the bike by a lead which detaches when the rider has come off suddenly. | In one version, the jacket is attached to the bike by a lead which detaches when the rider has come off suddenly. |
| The Department of Transport said it had no plans for a new law but said it welcomed anything to improve safety. | The Department of Transport said it had no plans for a new law but said it welcomed anything to improve safety. |
| Vital organs | Vital organs |
| Although motorcyclists make up just 1% of road users, they account for 20% of fatalities. | Although motorcyclists make up just 1% of road users, they account for 20% of fatalities. |
| Figures for 2007 show that 561 bikers died on the roads. | Figures for 2007 show that 561 bikers died on the roads. |
| Andy Parfitt, an A&E doctor at St Thomas' Hospital in London, said: "There is a shocking number of deaths of motorcyclists on the roads. I think dozens of lives could be saved if these jackets were made compulsory. | Andy Parfitt, an A&E doctor at St Thomas' Hospital in London, said: "There is a shocking number of deaths of motorcyclists on the roads. I think dozens of lives could be saved if these jackets were made compulsory. |
| It stopped me from rolling as well. It stops the bounce. I think it's the bounce when you're crashing at speed that hurts you Stuntman Rob Hunt after testing an air bag jacket Have Your Say: Should air bag jackets be made compulsory? | It stopped me from rolling as well. It stops the bounce. I think it's the bounce when you're crashing at speed that hurts you Stuntman Rob Hunt after testing an air bag jacket Have Your Say: Should air bag jackets be made compulsory? |
| Dr Parfitt, a keen biker, said: "There's no question that what the jackets do afford is, they protect a motorcyclists' vital organs, neck and spine over and above the level that a normal jacket would do. | Dr Parfitt, a keen biker, said: "There's no question that what the jackets do afford is, they protect a motorcyclists' vital organs, neck and spine over and above the level that a normal jacket would do. |
| "A majority of deaths in motorcycle accidents are due to injuries to these vital organs that should be protected by these jackets." | "A majority of deaths in motorcycle accidents are due to injuries to these vital organs that should be protected by these jackets." |
| One rider whose experience underlines the kind of injuries that motorcyclists can receive in accidents is 32-year-old Dineth Wijayarathna. | One rider whose experience underlines the kind of injuries that motorcyclists can receive in accidents is 32-year-old Dineth Wijayarathna. |
| He was involved in a crash two years ago on a private track that left him seriously injured. | He was involved in a crash two years ago on a private track that left him seriously injured. |
| He said: "I was doing about 130mph (210km/h), the rear wheel suspension failed on my motorcycle and I came off, broke my pelvis in two places, broke my back and broke a few ribs." | He said: "I was doing about 130mph (210km/h), the rear wheel suspension failed on my motorcycle and I came off, broke my pelvis in two places, broke my back and broke a few ribs." |
| He needed two major operations, couldn't walk for six months and still feels the after-effects two years on. | He needed two major operations, couldn't walk for six months and still feels the after-effects two years on. |
| "I've got a plate in the front of my pelvis with six bolts in it. I've got two 9cm (3.5in) bolts going through my pelvis into my spine," he said. | "I've got a plate in the front of my pelvis with six bolts in it. I've got two 9cm (3.5in) bolts going through my pelvis into my spine," he said. |
| "It was awful. Not being able to walk, not being able to do normal bodily functions for such a long period of time wasn't the best fun." | "It was awful. Not being able to walk, not being able to do normal bodily functions for such a long period of time wasn't the best fun." |
| Dineth Wijayarathna broke his back and pelvis after a crash | Dineth Wijayarathna broke his back and pelvis after a crash |
| There are different types of air bag jackets on sale in the UK, which cost up to twice as much as standard jackets. | There are different types of air bag jackets on sale in the UK, which cost up to twice as much as standard jackets. |
| One version, sold by Point Two, is attached to bikes by a lead and, if the wearer falls off, that triggers a small gas canister that inflates the jacket in less than one fifth of a second. | One version, sold by Point Two, is attached to bikes by a lead and, if the wearer falls off, that triggers a small gas canister that inflates the jacket in less than one fifth of a second. |
| The spine is then held tight and the air bag protects the area between the neck and pelvis. | The spine is then held tight and the air bag protects the area between the neck and pelvis. |
| Newsbeat gave one of the jackets to Rob Hunt, a stuntman for 12 years. | Newsbeat gave one of the jackets to Rob Hunt, a stuntman for 12 years. |
| He said afterwards: "It just stops you from going anywhere. It's tight. It's protecting all around my ribs." | He said afterwards: "It just stops you from going anywhere. It's tight. It's protecting all around my ribs." |
| "It felt as though I was picked up off the floor and I was on the air bag. It was just like gliding on air. | "It felt as though I was picked up off the floor and I was on the air bag. It was just like gliding on air. |
| "It stopped me from rolling as well. It stops the bounce. I think it's the bounce when you're crashing at speed that hurts you." | "It stopped me from rolling as well. It stops the bounce. I think it's the bounce when you're crashing at speed that hurts you." |