Topic: Cable Barrier Improves Highway Safety

[airbalancer]

Could they used the Glad ForceFlex material http://www.glad.com/trashbags/forceflex.php 

[Snowman]

The “barriers” are constructed to prevent a vehicle from crossing over into oncoming traffic and causing more damage. I don’t think there is a cost effect way to construct a barrier to protect “all” vehicles especially a motorcycle that has no structure around the driver.

[Cord]

I'm sure there are other ways to divide traffic that don't just kill a motorcyclist outright.

[safristi]

with the name "CORD" u have NO right in this fight !!!! .......


 there is NO Panacea fer BIKERS we like it that way...otherwise we'd just ride Toy TRIKES inna driveway with HELMETS ON......

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Most bikers aren't asking for absolute safety, far from it. A little consideration would be nice however.

Maybe something like this:

Aussie Study

[gottarondo]

Seems to me that we get into the most trouble when we go looking for "one big answer."  There might be local circumstances that make a certain type of divider the best or even the only practical solution.  Local discussion here just mentioned cable dividers as a possibility for the Patullo Bridge, notorious for head-ons, where there is no room for any other kind of divider without widening the whole bridge.

Knowing what I know now, however (and thanks, Big Thumb; that article was a real education!), if I were riding a motorcycle I would be putt-putting along in the right-hand lane wherever a cable barrier exists.  That way no ignoramus driver in a car with a designed-in blind spot and no interest in side mirrors can punt you into the barrier, and you don't careen into it by your own overestimation of your abilities to handle the bike.

[Turbo Bob]

I have seen the crash testing videos of these, there are many of these barriers in the UK.  They work very well at stopping cars crossing over the median, bikers on the other hand...

Any sort of Armco could injure a biker though, just when they thought they were sliding along coming to a gentle stop, a break in the armco comes along!

 

They also have a stronger version of the cable thing, for motoway bridges in the UK, they can stop an HGV coming off the bridge onto another motorway below, impressive stuff given the forces they are under.  This can't be biker friendly, but hey, how many lives are they trying to save...

[Gwendly]

http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2001/07/15/story786750928.asp

http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/muarc210.pdf

Especially in the later link you can read this:

"That is, a large percentage of these motorcycle crashes occurred in 70 km/h zones; speeding contributing to about half of the crashes." " Pre-crash factors; 49% serious speeding, 20% Drugs/Alchol...." 24% of crashes occured in speed of less thann 70 km/h, and 37% occured in speeds in excess of 70 km/h. Hate to tell you this but if you hit a concrete slab at 90 km/h your a crushed egg instead of a sliced egg. Who cares which food item you resemble, once you're dead yer dead. Especially since 14% weren't wearing helmets, and 14% didn't have a license (probably the same idiots that didn't have the helmet). 64% of all accidents occured in motorcycles with atleast 600 cc, which is quite powerful. Yes, the study only included 69 crashes but still.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

...Hate to tell you this but if you hit a concrete slab at 90 km/h you're a crushed egg instead of a sliced egg...

Most bikers I know travel parallel to road dividers, not perpendicular. Sliding along concrete barriers is survivable, sliding along cable barriers or under armco is akin to sliding along a cheese grater.

There are always going to be higher levels of fatalities on bikes than on cars. Just the nature of the beast. I have no problem with that. But why would society go out of its way to make it that much more dangerous?

I'd accept the barriers if, as a trade-off, they let us lane split legally!

[Titanium48]

I'd accept the barriers if, as a trade-off, they let us lane split legally!

I'll support that.  I don't ride motorbikes but I have no problem with two bikers side by side in a lane.  In fact I'd prefer it - they're easier to pass if they're going slow and they pass me faster if they're going fast.  Same goes for parking lots - two bikes will easily fit in a parking spot.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I'd accept the barriers if, as a trade-off, they let us lane split legally!

I'll support that.  I don't ride motorbikes but I have no problem with two bikers side by side in a lane.  In fact I'd prefer it - they're easier to pass if they're going slow and they pass me faster if they're going fast.  Same goes for parking lots - two bikes will easily fit in a parking spot.

Those ideas are good too but just to be clear:

[Titanium48]

Oh, that's what you mean.  I do that on my pedal bike between the through lane and the right turn lane.  Not sure if I'm so keen about motorbikes doing it though.