New Subaru Airbag Engages Cyclists Before Impact with the Windshield | Carscoops

      The new airbag is larger than earlier versions designed for pedestrian protection.

      16 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      Subaru's latest Forester showcases the world's first airbag specifically intended for cyclists.

      While previous technology centered on pedestrian safety, this new version has been enlarged to assist both groups.

      Currently, this life-saving feature is exclusive to Japan, with no confirmed release for North America yet.

      Car safety has significantly improved since the era of steel dashboards and optional seatbelts. However, no one wants to experience an accident, regardless of the safety features in modern vehicles. When collisions occur, airbags provide clear and established advantages. This is why Subaru has introduced an updated exterior airbag designed for cyclist safety on the newly refreshed Forester in Japan, building on a design first introduced in 2016.

      In that year, the Japanese manufacturer launched pedestrian safety airbags on models like the Impreza, WRX, Legacy, Crosstrek, and Levorg. These airbags activated near the top of the hood, creating a cushioned area for a pedestrian's head during a crash. However, this mechanism was less effective for cyclists, who are typically higher above the ground.

      A Fresh Approach to Cyclist Safety

      To improve this, Subaru has modified the airbag design to extend up the sides of the windshield, protecting cyclists from the A-pillar, one of the car's strongest components. Furthermore, the attachment method for the upper and lower panels of the airbag was adjusted to ensure its stability for both cyclists and pedestrians. Subaru claims this is the first airbag of its kind worldwide, which seems accurate.

      That said, this is not the first instance of airbags being utilized for cyclists; it's just the first to be executed in this specific manner. Previously, safety advocates developed wearable airbags for cyclists. For example, the Helite B’Safe vest airbag inflates in a manner similar to an inflatable device on an airplane, albeit much more rapidly.

      Although such wearable options offer some level of protection, they haven’t gained widespread popularity within the cycling community and typically cost several hundred dollars. Therefore, it is commendable to see automakers like Subaru considering the safety of all riders, regardless of their attire.

      Unfortunately, this particular airbag seems to be available only on the Japanese version of the Forester that launched today. We reached out to Subaru USA to inquire about the possibility of the feature being offered in the United States, but we had not received a response by the time of publication.