[NEWS]
Safer road design can reduce motorcycle accidents
Bikers' deaths can be halved says EuroRAP
Highways authorities across Europe should follow the lead of France and appoint a motorcycle champion, tasked specifically with safe road design for bikers, if the number of deaths is to be reduced, according to EuroRAP, the association measuring and mapping the safety of roads across Europe.
EuroRAP - led by European Programme Director, Dr Joanne Hill - has drawn together a panel of experts from across Europe to examine experiences and practices throughout the world. Today (4 December), the panel publishes 'Barriers to change: designing safe roads for motorcyclists'.
Safe road design - incorporating barriers, road markings and safer surfaces - has been proven to cut deaths and injuries for all road users by one third.
Crash barriers - that routinely save the lives of car occupants but can cause traumatic death and injury to bikers - account for up to one in every six rider road deaths, and can cause five times the severity of injury. In collisions with crash barriers, bikers are 15 times more likely to be killed than car occupants.
Across Europe, 16 per cent of all road fatalities are motorcyclists. In terms of rider fatalities per billion kilometres travelled, Norway has the lowest number at 30 per billion km, whereas in Greece, this figure is well above at 29 per cent.
The report finds clear evidence to justify new and immediate guidance on the design and positioning of crash barriers, showing road engineers where motorcycle friendly systems should be fitted at new sites, and retro-fitted at existing high-risk sites.
The report also calls for:
- European member countries to extend safety programmes to analyse risk patterns for motorcyclists
- Collision-report forms to include the collection of information on crash barriers, such as the type of barrier and the circumstances under which it was struck
- Demonstration projects showing pre- and post- implementation of motorcycle friendly devices under real world conditions
- Road-user specific risk reduction targets
- Road engineers to set clear criteria for crash barrier design and positioning
"Addressing road design from the perspective of motorcyclists is essential if we are to mirror the drop in fatalities amongst other road users," says John Dawson, Chairman of EuroRAP.
"Road authorities can appoint in-house champions to assure action on unacceptable risks to motorcyclists.
"Elsewhere in Europe - in France, Spain and The Netherlands - road engineers have clear guidance to support decisions, rather than being forced to use their judgment on matters of life and death.
"In France, road designers have already introduced a lower rail on crash barriers at key locations to prevent bikers from sliding under or hitting support posts. Since the modified barriers came into use, authorities have seen a 50 per cent drop in rider fatalities."
[INDEX]
ANESDOR ON DISCRIMINATORY REGISTRATION TAX FOR PTWS IN SPAIN
NEW STANDARD FOR VEHICLES NOT REQUIRING TYPE APPROVAL
At last European Road Safety Day in Paris, ACEM launched a European-wide safety campaign focussing on the road infrastructure. The objective of this safety campaign is to raise the riders’ awareness about the potential risks coming from the roadway itself.
Visit the website and download the cartoon
Accidents caused by the infrastructure account for 8% of the total according to MAIDS*. Poor conditions of many European roads and the fact that PTWs specific needs are still often neglected in road engineering are the main reasons for this situation.
*Link: MAIDS website