Motorcycle safety road treatments
The Making Roads Motorcycle Friendly Guide informs the design and maintenance of Victorian roads to better provide for the safety needs of motorcyclists.
It guides those who work who plan, design, construct, operate and maintain Victorian roads.
The following explanations are for road treatments that are based on the best-practice approaches outlined in the Guide and are typically funded by the Motorcycle Safety Levy.
Improved curve alignment signage and delineation
Delineation refers to reflective markers, lines or guideposts that define the roadway.
Winding roads can be dangerous for road users, particularly motorcycle riders. We’re making some of Victoria’s winding sections of road safer by installing:
- curve warning signs*
- speed advisory signs and guideposts
- clearer line-marking
* Some of the signs are referred to as chevron alignment markers. These are the signs with V-shaped symbols on their side, like stylised arrows. They are usually black on yellow, indicating the direction of the upcoming corner.
These safety improvements alert and prepare riders for the winding road conditions and help prevent run-off-road and head-on crashes.
Protection systems at the base of roadside barriers
Some sections of road present an increased crash risk for riders, usually due to corners. In these locations we often add an extra protection system underneath the main beam of roadside barriers to prevent riders from hitting the steel posts if they fall and slide. This additional protection is referred to as motorcycle underrun protection or a continuous motorcyclist protection system. They are also sometimes referred to as rub rail when made from flexible metal.
PolyBuffer is a plastic version of a rub rail mostly used on the ends of roadside barriers (called terminals) and extending for a short distance along the barrier before transitioning to flexible steel rub rail. The barrier terminals and PolyBuffer are designed to work together to absorb and redirect the energy of a high-speed impact, contributing to the safety of a rider if they lose control and hit the terminal or the steel posts closest to the terminal.
PolyBuffer and rub rails can be funded by the Motorcycle Safety Levy for specific locations that pose a risk to riders. They can also be included in the overall cost of a larger road project that addresses safety for all road users, including riders.
Bell-mouth sealing
A bell mouth is the area of a smaller side road or driveway that widens where it joins a larger road. The rounded corners resemble a bell shape. Sealing bell mouths at intersections or driveways where the entrance is gravel improves safety for motorcyclists. A smoother surface improves traction and prevents dirt and gravel from being dragged on to the main road, reducing the risk factors that could cause a rider to fall.
Post cushions
Post cushions are made from formulated foam and are intended to absorb some of the impact of a fallen rider. They are generally used on the flexible posts of wire-rope safety barriers.
Road surface improvements
Any surface issues have the potential to destabilise a motorcycle. Surface issues on a curve or in braking zones are particularly hazardous for motorcyclists. Road surface improvements refers to a variety of work on the surface of a road to improve its condition and safety. This can include:
- resurfacing the road (the top layer of the road that vehicles travel on)
- enhanced motorcycle maintenance programs
- localised removal of rutting, repair of edge drop-offs and cracking, and patching work.
Shoulder sealing
When a vehicle leaves the road, especially at high speeds, stopping and/or steering back into the traffic lane safely is easier if the vehicle’s tyres can grip to a sealed road shoulder, rather than trying to find traction on loose gravel.
If road edges are broken or contain loose gravel this can be a serious hazard for motorcycles. Sealing shoulders can also reduce the amount of loose gravel on road surfaces. Shoulder sealing can also make it safer for riders to create more space from oncoming traffic on narrower regional roads without having to ride on unsealed ground. It also means oncoming traffic on these roads is less likely to lose control and be a safety risk to riders.
We’re sealing shoulders on regional roads, particularly on curves, to minimise run-off-road crashes. Importantly, this does not involve re-sealing or rebuilding the entirety of the road. Rather, we add additional sealing to the outer edges of the road to make it wider and safer.