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Crash Barriers – Moving in the Right Direction

The Highways Agency has installed another Motorcycle Friendly Crash Barrier on their road network.

The Highways Agencies Angela Koenig said, 'We are always investigating ways to make motorways and trunk roads safer for road users. BikeGuard is another initiative that may reduce the number of motorcycle-related deaths and injuries on our network.'

The Bikeguard [1] system protects the exposed posts of crash barriers with an extra guard rail covering the posts. This is one of several systems that MAG has recommended through the work of FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations) “Road to Success” Improving Motorcyclists’ Safety by Improving Crash Barriers.

The Highways Agency statement in their recent press release says, “To improve safety to all road users, including motorcyclists, all new central barriers must now be solid concrete with no posts and there is also a recently-introduced section on motorcyclists in the Highway's Agency's Road Restraints Standard.

This means that at high-risk sites for motorcyclists, such as tight external bends, consideration must be given to the form of barrier to make sure it is safe for motorcyclists. BikeGuard is one of the solutions."

Although this points to no more Wire Rope Barriers being fitted in the UK, the Highway's Agency's Road Restraints Standard still has WRB as an acceptable barrier to use as it fits the EN standards.

It now appears when central barriers are being replaced WRB will not be used, a big “congratulations” to the Highways Agency.

However we need a public commitment from Government through the Transport Minister which is set out on the Crash Barrier Campaigns website Here and the Briefing document sent with Augusts Network.

The UK Government should make an immediate public commitment that:

There will be no more wire rope type barrier systems fitted in the UK. These are the most aggressive vehicle restraint system used on the roads.

A review of the placement of crash barriers needs to be undertaken with those identified as dangerous for motorcycles to be fitted with a motorcycle–friendly guardrail.

Decisions by road authorities to install Vehicle Restraint Systems should take into consideration the safety of motorcyclists so that they are not a greater danger than the obstacle they are intended to protect.

That these high maintenance and expensive systems will be systematically identified and replaced expediently.

We are so close with this and need just one more final push.

Please write to the Transport Minster Stephen Ladyman and your MP.

Trevor Baird Director Of Public Affairs

[1] BikeGuard can be fitted to existing safety barriers and a total of 1.3km has been put in place on the M27 J12 near Portsmouth, in Hampshire, and on the M4 J7 near Slough, in Berkshire, with a total  of 5kms nationally. Investigations into other sites where BikeGuard might be beneficial are currently being carried out.

A new document on Wire Rope barriers from Australia

Can be found Here or Here and linked on MAG UK Crash Barrier campaign information page Here

The document deals mainly with the differences of different types of barriers but also the cost implications of claims made that wire rope barriers are cheaper.

For Australia at least.