Volvo Introduces Glow-In-The-Dark Pain To Prevent Bicycle Injuries

Posted in Firm News on April 22, 2015

Relatively few people ride their bikes wherever they need to go — in fact, just 1% of all transportation occurs on a bicycle. Even so, fatalities and injuries in bike crashes are disproportionately high, and bicyclists are much more likely to be in a fatal accident than Americans driving their cars. What is the solution to this problem?

World-famous automobile manufacturer Volvo apparently believes the answer is glow-in-the-dark paint. The company began advertising its new LifePaint in March 2015 and it will be part of Volvo’s 2020 Vision campaign designed to prevent bicyclists and pedestrians from being struck by motor vehicles. The paint is water-based, comes in a spray can, and it is invisible in broad daylight. As it gets dark, the paint glows, illuminating the bicycle, bicycle gear, bicyclist safety gear, and even the bicyclist’s clothing — wherever he or she deems necessary to spray with the paint. The paint is not widely available for sale yet; the paint is on the shelves in select test markets. For example, London bike shops began selling 2,000 cans of LifePaint on April 2. The shipment has been sold out.

While it sounds like a popular and effective solution, some bicyclists and drivers have expressed concern. Why isn’t the product going over well with everyone?

It All Comes Down To Safer Driving
Bicycle injury statistics, including statistics about bicycle head injuries, are not good. In fact, in all car and bike crashes, two-thirds will result in a fatality and one in five will result in a serious head injury or traumatic brain injury. And many believe the best course to prevent bicycling injuries is not to illuminate bicycles and bicyclists with glow-in-the-dark paint, but to make certain drivers are paying attention and driving as safely as possible. With one in five (20%) of all car crashes caused by distracted driving, they kind of have a point, too.

If you were involved in a bike crash, talk to a bicycle accident lawyer about possible recourse and brain injury settlements. What do you think? Is glow-in-the-dark paint the solution for bicycle head injuries? Do drivers need to take more personal responsibility?