Biker-friendly central reservation

Spanish company design new central reservation that aims to lower threat to bikers

Posted: 11 August 2009
by Ben Cope

THIS CENTRAL reservation barrier could limit injuries and deaths to bikers if it were introduced in the UK.

Developed by two Spanish companies, the barrier is designed to mount onto an existing central reservation.

Instead of leaving the normal exposed uprights that pose a serious threat to bikers, this ingenious design features rubber mounted on rollers to lessen the speed at which a person decelerates, while the buffers on the rear, combined with the rubber rollers absorb force.

This system has been tested in Spain and will be introduced on trial sections of road. It's not realistic to think we'd see this on all motorways and dual carriageways across the UK, but there are certain corners, including exits and entry slip roads where barriers like this may save a biker in the event of a crash.

Motorcycle and clothing safety have developed so much in the last decade, it's about time those in charge of our roads caught up.

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Beema Boy

Anything to make our rides safer has got to be good ,bet the dot will say its to costly though. a damn site better than the chicken wire we see on some roads

.shiny side up !!!!


Posted: 11/08/2009 at 14:14


twoeyedbob
Unfortunatly.the only way we'll get that is if it's cheaper.
Council finance comes b4 bikers safety.

Posted: 11/08/2009 at 17:20


hattyfarbuckle

looks good... unfortunately the Highways Agency policy is that all end of life replacement and new central reservation barriers will be solid concrete ...

 http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/11569.aspx

where  they state that  "At present there is no European test to look at the effect of motorcyclists and barriers. However, some research has been carried out and this indicates that concrete offers a safer option compared to post and rail systems." ... presumably no comparison was made with the Spanish design.

 Even so , I guess you have more chance or surviving a glance with concrete than girder and Armco ... not sure I want to know how bad the stats are..


Posted: 12/08/2009 at 20:37

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