Abstract: A protective system including a garment-shaped inflatable member for surrounding at least upper portions of the body of a rider of a non-enclosed vehicle, and apparatus for exposing the interior of the inflatable member to the pressurized gas source for rapidly inflating the inflatable member in response to a sudden separation of the rider from the vehicle by at least a predetermined distance. The inflatable member has a garment-shaped configuration when in a non-inflated orientation, and when inflated, has an expanded, generally bulbous configuration such that large magnitude concentrated forces experienced thereby on impact with an object subsequent to the sudden separation of the rider from wherein the vehicle are prevented from transfer directly to the rider, thereby protecting the surrounded upper portions of the rider's body from serious injury.