Analyzing Bicycle Accidents with Human Body Models

For the past 20 years, single-bicycle accidents have been the most common cycling accidents in Sweden (more than 70% of all injuries) [1-4] and in other countries where many people use bikes as means of transportation [5-6]. Vehicles were involved in a majority of the lethal bicycle accidents. Neck injuries were a small portion of all cycling injuries, but they were associate with a large risk of permanent medical impairment. Therefore, it is interesting to explore if head protective safety devices can provide safety benefits for the neck as well. Hövding is a head protective device that is worn as a scarf around the neck, with sensors that trigger inflation of an airbag in case of an accident. Theoretically, the portion of the airbag that surrounds the neck could protect from neck injuries (see Fig. 1).