Mandatory airbag vest? Spanish motorcyclists don't want airbags

 

We wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. But would you be equally cheerful if it was compulsory to wear an airbag vest?

 

Mandatory vests are trying to push through the Directorate General for Road Traffic in Spain. The initiative is also supported by Asociación Nacional de Empresas del Sector de Dos Ruedas (Anesdor), an association of companies operating in the two-wheeled automotive sector, and even the personal support of Pere Navarro, president of Dorna, the company responsible for the preparation of the World Motorcycle Championship. In short, the matter is serious.  

 

The campaign has also been going on for weeks, accompanied by the hashtag #PonteUnAirbag. The campaign aims to raise the awareness of motorcycle and moped users about the benefits of wearing a vest or an airbag jacket.

 

What arguments do the vest advocates use? Anesdor's Secretary-General José María Riaño stressed the "great importance" of the airbag for motorcyclists "which has great potential to reduce injuries in the event of an accident".

 

Also, studies by Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE) have been published, which confirm the effectiveness, in a crash test, of three different types of airbags for motorcyclists. In all three cases, the airbag was deployed before the dummy hit the vehicle (in less than 120 milliseconds).

 

But it is one thing to consciously, freely choose a vest, and another order and regulation, the non-observance of which will result in punishing motorcyclists by law enforcement agencies. In opposition to the narrative of pillow supporters, Asociación Mutua Motera (AMM) - a Spanish organization of motorcyclists, surveyed to investigate the mood of two-wheelers about vests.

 

It turned out that only slightly more than 29% of respondents considered that vests with pillows should be mandatory. As many as 65% of respondents opted for a free choice and do not want any compulsion to wear special clothing. Just over 2.5 thousand people participated in the study. motorcyclists.

 

Why is the campaign and debate about airbags in Spain important to us? Because the solution that will eventually be adopted by the local authorities may result in similar ideas in other EU countries. And yet we know very well how much the government loves regulations, orders, and bans, especially if it can generously impose new penalties on them in the fines of mandates.

 

Or maybe life and health are more important than our whim? Are you willing to accept the obligation to use airbag jackets and safety vests or not? Just a reasonable argument, please.