Issued 21st April 2006   Improving Motorcyclists’ Safety by improving Crash Barriers

FEMA successfully organises event in the European Parliament to raise awareness on the need of motorcyclists’ minded road infrastructure

On the 19th April 2006, with the support of Mrs Wortmann-Kool MEP, FEMA launched an initiative to demonstrate that the risk of fatal and serious injuries to motorcyclists can be easily and significantly reduced by covering the supporting posts of the crash barrier, whilst maintaining the effectiveness of the crash barrier so devised in restraining other vehicles such as cars. The safety of motorcyclists can substantially be improved through appropriate road infrastructure.

By and large, crash barriers are typically designed to guide and restrain errant vehicles, ranging from small cars to heavy goods vehicles. Under the current European Standard they are not designed or tested to restrain motorcycles or motorcyclists. A motorcyclist involved in an accident or a fall is therefore at risk of impacting with 'roadside furniture', such as lampposts, signposts or crash barriers. FEMA already underlined the need to improve the design of crash barriers in reports carried out in 2000 and 2005.

During the meeting in the European Parliament a video presentation of a full scale crash test performed by HIASA on a safety barrier fitted with motorcyclists’ protective devices was shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of such devices not only in relation to motorcyclists but also regarding errant vehicles with 4 or more wheels.

The importance of taking into account the safety needs of motorcyclists and their vehicles in all road infrastructure was further underlined by a presentation of the ACEM handbook “Guidelines for Powered Two-Wheelers - Safer Road Design in Europe”.

As a corollary, Mrs Wortmann-Kool MEP, supported by Mr. Queiro’ MEP, tabled a written question to the European Commission urging the Commission to promote best practices for road construction and promote the regular updating of CEN standards; to come forward with the infrastructure package that takes into account the need of all road users including the more vulnerable ones such as motorcyclists; to consider that a ban on cable barriers would contribute to road safety, and finally to give a mandate to the CEN to establish a new European standard for crash barriers that includes motorcycles and mopeds users.

Commenting after the event, FEMA Secretary General Antonio Perlot said: “I would like to thank Mrs Wortmann-Kool MEP for her support to this initiative, in favour of a better road safety culture. FEMA wishes that it can finally lead to a CEN standard for crash barriers also taking into account the needs of motorcyclists. Our needs as road users are often neglected when it comes to road infrastructure design and maintenance.”

ENDS
 

Notes to the editor:
1. FEMA safety reports are available on www.fema.ridersrights.org 
2. HIASA www.hiasa.es
3. ACEM handbook is available on www.acembike.org

 

FEMA - Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations
Rue des Champs 62, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 736 9047 / Fax: +32 (0)2 736 9401
www.fema.ridersrights.org