”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!