”Vision Zero Motorcycle Road” Before & After Morten Hansen - General Secretary, Norwegian Motorcycle Union in cooperation with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration
Jan 14, 2016
”Vision Zero Motorcycle Road”
Before & After
Morten Hansen - General Secretary, Norwegian Motorcycle Union
in cooperation with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration
Vision Zero and motorcycles
When “Vision Zero” was introduced in the 1990-ties, the founding fathers of this radical approach stated that motorcycles were incompatible with the high road safety ambitions of “Vision Zero”
Norwegian riders of course refused to accept this anti-motorcycling interpretation of this new national road safety strategy approved by the Parliament, and started campaigning for having motorcycles included
Handbook 245, Motorcycle Safety
One part of the campaign was to demand inclusion of motorcycles in infrastructure guidelines
As a result, Handbook 245, Motorcycle Safety, a motorcycle guide for highway engineers, was published in 2004
Handbook 245, Motorcycle Safety, describes design and operation of roads and traffic systems with a focus on motorcycle safety
Among other things, Handbook 245 introduced road safety audits focusing on the needs of riders
Road Safety Audits, focusing on MC
Handbook 245 brought a motorcycle safety audit checklist for highway engineers
Highway 32, in Telemark County
The scenic and twisty Highway 32 in Telemark County is popular among riders
Unfortunately it was also one of the 10 most accident prone roads in Norway
That’s why a stretch of Highway 32 was chosen when the first ever Norwegian road safety audit focusing on motorcycles was carried out
“Vision Zero Motorcycle Road”
The motorcycle safety audit on Highway 32 lead to a number of actions, taking the needs of riders into account
The project had a cost limit of 750.000 EURO
The first “Vision Zero Motorcycle Road” was opened by the then FEMA President in May 2008
Improving field of viewBefore After
Problem: Pour visibility in curve
Action: Remove rocks
Improving field of viewBefore After
Problem: Pour visibility in curve
Action: Remove trees
Moving light posts Before After
Problem: Hazardous elements in the safety zone
Action: Remove trees, move light posts to the inside
Motorcycle friendly sub-rail (PVC)
Damages caused by snow plough during the first winter
Problem: Unprotected guardrail posts in outer curve
Action: Installing polyethyleneMC-friendly sub-rail
Motorcycle friendly sub-rail (PVC)
Installing on a spacer between the post and the upper rail protects the sub-rail from damages caused by the snow plough
Motorcycle friendly sub-rail (steel)
Moving curve signs Before After
Problem: Hazardous sign posts in safety zone
Action: Install yielding sign posts, move sign posts behind guardrail and fit guardrail with MC-friendly sub-rail
Moving guardrail terminal Before After
Problem: Dangerous guardrail terminal
Action: Swing guardrail terminal away from roadway
Moving private access road entranceBefore After
Problem: Access road entrance too close to the curve
Action: Move entrance further away from the curve
Improving field of view at crossing Before After
Problem: Pour visibility at junction
Action: Cut down vegetation, flatten terrain and install yielding signposts
Asphalting gravel access roadBefore After
Problem: Gravel from access road entrance ending up on roadway
Action: Asphalt 5 meters of the access road
”Softening” side terrainBefore After
Problem: Rocks in safety zone
Action: Remove rocks and fill up with soft soil
Removing rocks close to roadwayBefore After
Problem: Protruding rocks in safety zone
Action: Crush rocks and move switchbox
Intensive streetlights at zebra crossings
Problem: Pour visibility of pedestrians crossing in the dark
Action: Highlighting the pedestrian crossing with bright, white light
Guardrail terminals
Problem: Guardrail terminal with sharp edges, dangerous to riders
Action: Installing protective plastic cover
Yielding aluminium sign posts Before After
As soon as possible: Put power lines in the ground and get rid
of wooden pole
Problem: Too many rigid sign posts
Action: Installing yielding sign post
How did it work out?
Since the opening in May 2008 there has not been any serious motorcycle accidents on this stretch of Highway 32
The safety audit on Highway 32 did focus on motorcycles, but the actions taken have proven beneficial to all road users
At the OECD Conference on Motorcycle Safety in Lillehammer in 2008, the Norwegian Transport Minister said:
- I would like to use this opportunity to put to sleep any rumors that motorcycles and the Norwegian Vision Zero concept are incompatible
- Vision Zero obviously must include all groups of legal road users, and because motorcyclists are more vulnerable than many other road users, special attention must be given to this group when developing measures for accident prevention and injury reduction
“Vision Zero Motorcycle Road”
Thanks for listening!