Motorcycle and Safety Barrier Crash-Testing: Feasibility Study

Authors: Duncan C, Corben B, Truedsson N and Tingvall C

Australian Transport Safety Bureau - Contract Report No. 201

Abstract

Roadside barriers are designed to enhance the safety of the road infrastructure by containing errant vehicles and reducing the severity of off-path collisions. While conventional barrier systems have performed well for the occupants of passenger cars, their effects on the safety of other road user groups, especially motorcyclists, is not well understood. The main purpose of this feasibility study was to recommend a research method for investigating the interactions between motorcycles and road safety barriers. A review of the relevant national and international literature was conducted, revealing a relative lack of published material regarding the nature of motorcycle collisions both with roadside barriers as well as motorcycle crashes in general. Various features of barrier systems were identified in the literature as providing a significant safety risk to fallen motorcyclists, particularly barrier posts. There have been numerous strategies employed, mostly in Europe, to better protect motorcyclists from impacts with barriers, including the installation of additional W-beams, using impact attenuators to cover exposed barrier posts and substituting traditional IPE posts with more forgiving "sigma" posts. In addition, there have been several new barrier designs and/or modifications that have been developed and tested in Europe with promising results. Guidelines developed for the conduct of physical crash-tests with motorcycles were reviewed, and alternative methods, such as computer/mathematical simulations and component testing, were also considered. Based on the information from the literature review and subsequent consultation with several experts and stakeholders, recommendations for a multi-stage research program were made.

Executive Summary

This report has been prepared for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) by the Monash University Accident Research Centre. It constitutes the first stage of a potential multi-stage project and takes the form of a feasibility study of motorcycle and safety barrier crash-testing.

Road safety barriers are designed to enhance the safety of the road infrastructure by containing errant vehicles and reducing the severity of off-path collisions. Experience indicates that conventional barrier systems used in accordance with specific guidelines have performed well in protecting the occupants of passenger cars. However, their effects on the safety of motorcyclists, is somewhat problematic. Given the limited available information on motorcycle-barrier interactions, and the lack of established procedures for motorcycle crash-testing, ATSB commissioned a preliminary investigation of relevant issues. This report is the principal output of these preliminary investigations.

The main purpose of this initial work was to recommend a research method for investigating the interactions between motorcycles and road safety barriers. Specific objectives were to:

identify barrier design issues likely to impact on motorcycle rider safety;
identify relevant rider injury mechanisms;
identify and assess the feasibility of research methods for investigating interactions between motorcycles and safety barriers;
recommend a research program, addressing the overall aims described above.

The study has involved a review of the international literature on relevant topics, analysis of motorcycle crash records, and consultation with technical experts and key stakeholders in three States.