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Making Crash Barriers and Road Maintenance
Practices Motorcycle-Friendly

Submitted to the Transportation Research Board, February 2002

Problem Statement:

Lacing virtually every major thoroughfare and interstate in the United States are crash barriers designed to control a crash by a car, prevent cross-over, slow momentum, minimize damage and lessen injury. Unfortunately, most crash barriers in America are dangerous to motorcyclists. Their very design, placement and construction - with exposed, sharp-edged metal posts; the height, profile, design and composition of guard rails; proximity to the roadway; and even, in some cases, use of steel cable as the arresting medium -- could not be more damaging to a motorcyclist even if they had been designed with that grim purpose in mind.

Highway maintenance practices in the United States are just as problematic. Some asphalt patching results in the creation of "tar snakes" - black ice to the motorcyclist. Steel plates covering the roadway in construction sites are also extremely slippery, particularly when wet. Some crews fail to mix non-skid with roadway paint, creating another slippery surface.

Sveriges Motorcyklisters Centralorganisation (the Swedish Motorcyclists' Association) (SMA) and the Norsk Motorcykkel Union (Norwegian Motorcycle Union) (NMU) have advanced motorcycle-friendly barrier technology that, they assert, meets the needs of larger motor vehicles as well. Following an appeal by NMU, Norwegian road authorities adopted a policy of incorporating motorcyclists' concerns into their new manual for crash barrier design and construction.

On the maintenance front, some nations - notably Australia - publish routine maintenance notes that alert maintenance crews to rider-friendly repair practices. In America, several state transport departments (notably Pennsylvania's) pursue a program of eliminating barriers where not needed.

Proposed Research:

Study the barrier designs of Europe, particularly Norway, and the road maintenance crew awareness programs of Australia. Conduct in-lab and/or on-road testing of the Norwegian crash barrier designs in a representative highway setting.

Study existing crash barrier designs in the United States to identify those most hazardous to motorcyclists (e.g., "cheese cutter" cable runs) to prioritize those systems for replacement, and conduct an economic analysis of programmed replacement - the most dangerous barriers soonest and other designs when major overhaul is called for.

Study road maintenance crew awareness programs of Australia and determine feasibility of their application in the United States.

Study the methodology used by Pennsylvania DOT in barrier removal and feasibility of applying the methodology nationwide.

Expected Benefit:

Enhanced safety for all road users.

Origin of the Statement:

Motorcycle Riders Foundation
Mr. Tom Wyld, VP-Government Relations
P.O. Box 1808
Washington, DC 20013-1808
Phone: 202/546-0983
Fax: 202/546-0986
E-Mail: wyld@mrf.org

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