Published: 22 September 2006
New Safety Barrier Helps Bikers
An innovation designed to improve motorbike safety at sites with a high risk of accidents is being installed on barriers at key locations on motorways in Southern England by the Highways Agency.
The new product, called BikeGuard, is designed to reduce the chances of death or serious injury after a fall from a motorbike.
The system uses a metal panel which is fitted onto the barrier support posts and protects riders who skid into the barriers from injuring themselves on exposed support posts.
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.
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 and BikeGuard is one of the solutions.
Highways Agency area manager, 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."
Hampshire Constabulary's Motorbike Safety Officer, Mick Gear, said:
"I think anything that has a potential of reducing the severity of injury when riders are involved in a collision is a positive step."
The Highways Agency is working closely with bikers to help them stay safe, as well as tackling accident blackspots on the roads.
The Highways Agency recently launched a new DVD called Great Roads, Great Rides and this takes riders step-by-step through everything they need to know to enjoy the best and safest riding on UK roads.
It has 14 chapters covering everything from advice on basic maintenance checks and what kit to wear, through to how to read and negotiate the road, how to ride safely with a group, and what to do if you're first on the scene of a crash.
The DVD is designed as an essential reference tool to be kept and referred to again & again.
Copies of "Great Roads, Great Rides" were distributed with the September issue of Bike magazine.
Visitors to this season's remaining British Superbike meetings can pick up a copy of the DVD from the THINK! road safety campaign's Academy stand.
The casualty rate for motorcycle riders is 35 times higher than for cars.
Further information
THINK! Motorcycle safety
BikeGuard
Highway's Agency's Road Restraints Standard
Approved Road Restraint System
Related article: Safe Biking
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