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Crash Barriers - Feedback from Regions on MAGs position statement
An information pack including our current position was circulated on 20th January 2005 with zero feedback.
The situation has moved on since then with MAG Netherlands being threatened with a law suit because of their stance and showing of a test video on their website.
Since the Dutch company Eurorail (a daughter company of Brifen) can prove that Brifen owns the rights to the video, MAG Netherlands have had to remove it from their website today.
Although if you wish to see the sample which was shown at the April AGC, there is a copy available or you can watch it in the public domain along with similar videos at:
www.brifenusa.com
www.brifen.co.uk/video.html
http://safence.com/Standarde.htm
The problem with the MAG UK crash barrier position, which focuses on wire rope systems is that it along with other statements from MAG UK are being used by wire rope manufacturers, mainly Briefen to disrupt the riders lobby against wire rope barriers by our colleagues in other riders organizations, namely MAG Netherlands and MAG Ireland.
Some History
At http://www.eurorail.nl/kabels/MAG%20brief.htmI (see below) this is Euro-rail/Brifen using a thirteen year old letter by MAG UK to proof that cable barriers are safe for riders.
We understand this letter was written after MAG UK was threatened by Brifen with court action on the MAG UK stance and writings on wire rope barriers in 1992.
Some things never change!!!
The MAG position was also based on a looking at 20 years of M62 accident statistics provided by West Yorkshire police on straight parts of road/motorway and finding approx only two motorcycle accidents which did not result in bad injury, the accidents being caused by rear wheel blow outs.
Back in 1992 there was the real threat of the introduction of leg protectors.
So based on this the MAG position also reflected this threat, the reasoning was that if riders say that wire rope barriers are dangerous then leg protectors and their promoters such as Dr Chinn would see this as a reason to protect riders.
But as mentioned times and attitudes have changed somewhat, so this is not as much a threat but still worth thinking of. Especially with mention of leg protectors by TfL (Transport for London) at a committee meeting in 2004.
We also have a copy of a video from Brifen were the MAG logo (pipes) is used along with words of support by MAG.
MAG Ireland’s website has a radio interview which mentions MAG UK’s support of wire rope barriers.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1118/morningireland/morningireland3a.smil
This is not good, we have an outdated position and are dragging other riders’ rights organizations back with an outdated position.
Our position on all crash barriers is being updated.
Trevor Baird Contacted Brifen asking them to remove any reference that infers that MAG UK literally supports wire rope barriers and Euro-rail asking them to forward the correspondence that is referenced in the letter on their website and any copies of their continued research.
Update
Within 24 hours they had removed the letter!!
Network On-Line update.
FEMA’s “Road To Success” document on crash Barriers Here
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