Guardrail system adapted for motorcyclists

Abstract

The primary function of barrier systems, as passive road safety elements, is to reduce the severity of traffic accident consequences. Although barrier systems have been designed and proven beneficial for motor vehicles, they currently do not address the issues that arise in motorcycle crashes. This paper presents foreign research findings which conclude that motorcyclists are more susceptible to injuries than drivers of other motor vehicles and that motorcyclists are more likely to suffer severe injuries when crashing into a barrier system. Therefore, addressing this issue and finding solutions to reduce fatalities and injuries among motorcyclists is one of the key tasks in the field of traffic safety. The paper also presents additions currently used or in development for existing barrier systems, which would improve motorcyclist safety while maintaining the existing benefits for other motor vehicles. Furthermore, it highlights the lack of standards for testing barrier systems for motorcyclists, particularly in the context of motorcyclists' impacts in an upright position with a barrier.