Improving motorcycling safety

Motorcycling Safety Guide

As part of this safety improvement project, we are developing a best-practice ‘Motorcycling Safety Guide’ for road controlling authorities, road users and other stakeholders. The guide will provide guidance on the implementation of safety treatments on high-risk motorcycling routes, reflecting international best practice, input from stakeholders, and results from pilot projects. The resulting safety improvements will ultimately benefit the entire network and all users.

Consistent with additional direction from the Safer Journeys Action Plan 2011-2012, the ‘Motorcycling Safety Guide’ will also provide advice on how to identify, assess and prioritise high-risk routes of interest using crash data and input from motorcyclists and other stakeholders.

Responding to the Safer Journeys Action Plan

The motorcycling safety improvement project responds to the Safer Journeys Action Plan 2011-2012, and in particular the motorcycling-related initiatives, to facilitate the implementation of a Safe System approach towards motorcycling safety. This approach acknowledges that users will always make mistakes when travelling on the roads. Given that this is inevitable and people have limited ability to withstand crash forces, the system needs to protect users from death or serious injury.

Pilot project to improve safety for motorcyclists

A related pilot project aims to improve safety for motorcyclists on a high-risk, popular motorcycling route in the Thames-Coromandel region, again using a Safe System approach.

The 'Coromandel Loop' pilot project.

The pilot project will be a practical application of the best-practice recommendations that are being developed as part of the guide. Lessons learnt will help to determine appropriate approach treatments to this and other high-risk roads across New Zealand, and will help inform updated versions of the Safety Guide.

Collaboration with key partners

A number of key partners are supporting this initiative and collaborating to achieve the goals of the project. A sector wide reference group has been established and is working to lead development of the 'Motorcycling Safety Guide'.

Membership in the reference group includes the MOTO NZ (Motorcyclists Own the Options), and representatives from a number of road controlling authorities made up primarily of local and regional councils, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), as well as the NZTA.

What are the next steps in this project?

The NZTA will continue to engage with our partners on the development of the ‘Motorcycling Safety Guide’. However, we will want to get your thoughts on the direction of the guide as well. Late in 2011 there will be an opportunity on this website to view and comment on the draft version of the report. It is expected that the guide will be completed by fall 2012.

The team in the NZTA’s regional Hamilton office, responsible for leading the Thames-Coromandel pilot project, has gained a solid understanding of the safety-related motorcycling issues along the route based on the inputs to the project. They are currently investigating what measures would potentially have the most benefits for motorcyclists, and have applied for the funding necessary to implement the measures. Pending approval of funding, interventions are not expected to be implemented on the route any earlier than spring 2012. This is primarily due to the NZTA’s investment cycle.

An urban pilot project, similar in scope to the rural-focused ‘Coromandel Loop’ project, is expected to be launched in 2012, subject to funding. The ‘high-risk’ urban motorcycling route has yet to be determined.