from wired.com

It looks like a poorly designed life vest, but this little gizmo could save your neck from snapping. And I hear that hurts.

Dainese, being a forward-thinking motorcycle protective apparel company, have created an airbag jacket accessory designed to be worn by racers. The thought is that most life threatening injuries that happen are ones involving the head and neck, so this airbag is designed to protect racers from those kind of injuries that happen most often during highside crashes, or from slamming into walls after an unexpected dismount.

I don’t really understand all the technical wizardry involved, or how the airbag decides it’s time to inflate, but I am glad a company has taken this step to help make road racing safer.

Check out wired for some more crash pictures featuring the deployed airbag.