Road Safety

Although there are already cycling jackets and vests with integrated rear lights, those aren't going to do you much good if you cover them with a backpack. That's where the Torch pack comes in, as it has an integrated lighting system of its own.

While most bicycle commuting backpacks simply allow cyclists to carry their stuff, EVOC Sports' newest model offers a little something extra. In the event of an accident, an airbag pops out of it to protect the rider's upper body.

While a headlight and tail light are essential for night-time bicycle commuting, one thing that really catches motorists' eyes is movement. Arclight Bike Pedals were designed with that in mind, as they feature auto-color-changing LED modules.

Although there are now many turn-indicator-equipped helmets, cyclists still ought to also use arm signals. That's where the Classon helmet comes in, as its indicators are trigged by the rider's arm gestures – plus it warns of cars coming from behind.

Vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems already allow cars to warn one another of hazards such as accidents or road work. Mercedes-Benz is now building on the technology, providing alerts of speed bumps and potentially dangerous potholes.

It would not be an understatement to say that some users of e-scooter sharing services ride rather irresponsibly. A new system, however, detects improper scooter usage and responds by warning the rider or even stopping the scooter if necessary.

A large percentage of bike-versus-car accidents occur when automobiles pass too closely to cyclists. The Dashbike tail light was designed with that in mind, as it automatically records video of any too-close drive-bys.

While it looks like a relatively normal polyester shell cycling jacket, the Cirrus has a trick up its sleeve. In the event of a collision or fall it transforms into a wearable airbag, inflating in just 0.08 seconds to protect the neck and body.

Six years ago, Chinese manufacturer Livall debuted one of the first "smart" bicycle helmets. Well, the company is still at it, with a lighter, sleeker new model that's currently on Indiegogo.

Roughly 9,000 injuries and 400 American deaths per year are the direct result of rollover accidents involving class-8 semi trucks – an event that could be a thing of the past if Axicle's Tractor Anti-Roll System performs as expected.

In order to keep drivers from passing too close, some cyclists use bike-mounted foam "noodles" that extend out horizontally toward the traffic. The L-Bow takes that concept a step further, by applying it to a tail light.

There was nobody in the driver's seat when a Tesla Model S ran off the road and crashed this week, killing two. No other manufacturer would be blamed for an incident like this, but does Tesla's audacious Autopilot rollout bear some responsibility?