Issued 8th August 2006
On Friday 4th August the Norwegian Minister of Transport, Mrs. Liv Signe Navarsete, announced a ban on the use of cable barriers. She did so after years of lobbying by FEMA´s member organisation, the Norwegian Motorcycle Union (NMCU). “Finally, we see an end to the egg slicers”, said NMCU chairman Jan-Fredrik Moller.
Since the early nineties, the NMCU has spearheaded the struggle against cable barriers, or wire rope fences, a design not at all developed with motorcyclists’ safety in mind. In a press conference outside the Department for Transportation in Oslo, Norway, the Minister of Transport, Mrs. Liv Signe Navarsete, made the following announcement:
“I have, in agreement with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, reviewed the objections from the NMCU, and examined the case more closely. Today I have this message to the NMCU and the Norwegian motorcyclists: The Public Roads Administration shall hereafter use crash barrier types that offer a high level of safety for all groups of road users. This implies that there will be no more road stretches fitted with cable barriers, beyond those already installed”.
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has argued that cable barriers cost a lot less than other barrier designs. While it is true that cable barriers are cheaper to purchase, maintenance costs have proven to be astronomical, and thus the total cost ends up comparable to other designs. “We are very pleased that the Minister of Transport has heard our objections, and we’re grateful for the wise decision she has made. This is a victory for road safety, for the NMCU, and for all motorcyclists in Norway”, said Jan-Fredrik Moller, facing massive applause from the motorcyclists present.
There’s a growing scepticism towards the use of cable barriers throughout Europe. Denmark has removed all theirs, the Dutch Parliament decided last year to ban cable barriers and even prominent members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have now suggested a ban in the European Union. In this respect, Mrs. Navarsete’s wise decision is in accordance with the developments in the rest of Europe.
NMCU´s success supports FEMA´s fight on European level. During a meeting in the European parliament on Wednesday 19 April 2006, FEMA informed MEPs about the dangers connected with the use of crash barriers. With standard crash barriers motorcyclists will often slide under the barrier, instead of being guided. A collision with one of the supporting poles often leads to fatal injuries. The safety of motorcyclists can be improved by adapting crash barriers with elements that prevent riders from hitting the poles. But with cable barriers not only the posts, but also the cables pose a threat as they can have a cutting effect that might lead to amputations. This type of crash barrier has earned the nickname, the ´egg slicer´, for a reason. The stories of motorcyclists who have survived encounters with the cable barriers are horrifying.
FEMA therefore calls on the European Commission to include motorcycles in the testing of crash barriers within the current EN 1317 standard, so that crash barriers can be made safe for all road users. Or to develop a new standard, parallel to EN 1317, focussing on motorcyclists' specific safety needs since that is absolutely not the case at this moment.
