England gets serious on motorcycle safety
A wide-ranging blueprint, as the government-owned Highways England joins the motorcycle association and police in a new mainstream policy and safety frameworkHighways England, the government-owned company responsible for running over 6400km of the country's motorways and major roads, has joined the police and Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) in a landmark collaboration to improve motorcycle rider safety.
A jointly written white paper called ‘Realising the Motorcycling Opportunity: A Motorcycle Safety and Transport Policy Framework’ calls for motorcycles and scooters to be included in mainstream transport policy and for rider safety to be consistently factored into national road design, which has not been the case in the past.
Seven key areas have been identified, which would make roads safer for riders, along with actions as to how this can be achieved practically. These include safer infrastructure, expanding road user education, increasing awareness and training and working in partnership with cycle groups.
The framework also advocates unlocking the benefits of motorcycles and demonstrating exactly how they offer a practical solution to congestion, as well as improving personal mobility for people without access to other forms of transport.
“For too long, motorcyclists have been at the bottom of the pecking order in terms of priority for traffic management and road planners," said Karen Cole from the MCIA. "Often ‘safety advice’ is a thinly veiled attempt to keep people off motorcycles and scooters, rather than a genuine attempt to reduce their vulnerability.
"It is important to recognise the transport choice of riders and address their needs appropriately. Ignoring motorcyclists increases their vulnerability.”
The Framework advocates using guidelines produced by the Institute of Highway Engineers which identifies simple practical steps to reduce risks for riders. These include:
- Using rider friendly barriers and road surfaces;
- Repositioning pillars;
- Removing unnecessary signage;
- Using non-slip manhole covers; and
- Prompt clear up of diesel.
Is this collaboration a lesson for Aussie authorities? Have your say below.
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