Research Report AP-R515-16 Infrastructure Improvements to Reduce Motorcycle Casualties Infrastructure Improvements to Reduce Motorcycle Casualties Prepared by Publisher David Milling, Dr Joseph Affum, Lydia Chong and Samantha Taylor Austroads Ltd. Level 9, 287 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Project Manager Phone: +61 2 8265 3300 [email protected] Melvin Eveleigh www.austroads.com.au Abstract About Austroads This report presents the technical findings of a two-year study which Austroads is the peak organisation of Australasian road sought to identify effective infrastructure improvements to reduce transport and traffic agencies. motorcycle crash risk and crash severity, based on how riders perceive, respond and react to infrastructure they encounter. Austroads’ purpose is to support our member organisations to deliver an improved Australasian road transport network. To The project commenced with a literature review of national and succeed in this task, we undertake leading-edge road and international guides, publications and research papers, which also transport research which underpins our input to policy enabled the identification of knowledge gaps and areas where further development and published guidance on the design, detail was required. A crash analysis was undertaken to demonstrate construction and management of the road network and its the relationship between motorcycle crashes, travel period, vehicle associated infrastructure. configuration (i.e. motorcycle only and multiple vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle), road geometry, road layout (e.g. intersection Austroads provides a collective approach that delivers value type) and crash types. For comparative purposes, vehicle crashes at for money, encourages shared knowledge and drives the same location were also analysed. consistency for road users. Explanations of why, and how, road infrastructure elements influence Austroads is governed by a Board consisting of senior motorcycle crash risk were researched and are provided within this executive representatives from each of its eleven member report. This primarily involved identifying how the design and organisations: condition of road infrastructure elements can influence either the • Roads and Maritime Services New South Wales likelihood of a crash occurring or the resulting severity of a crash. • Roads Corporation Victoria Where a number of elements that would increase the likelihood or • Department of Transport and Main Roads Queensland severity of a crash were present concurrently, the proportionate increase in risk was demonstrated using the AusRAP model. • Main Roads Western Australia • Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure The study has built up a compendium of treatments, presented in South Australia such a way that engineering decisions to manage these elements can be justified, even if outside of existing design warrants, and asset • Department of State Growth Tasmania management and maintenance practice. • Department of Transport Northern Territory The research highlights that motorcycles should be identified as an • Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate, Australian Capital Territory individual road user group and considered as a ‘design vehicle’ during road design and asset management and maintenance • Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and practices. Regional • Australian Local Government Association It is concluded that motorcycle crash risk can be managed, but requires changes in practice, in design, asset management funding • New Zealand Transport Agency. and routine maintenance performance contracts. One example is in the identification of road sections and/or routes that pose the highest crash risk to motorcyclists, so that they can be managed and ISBN 978-1-925451-07-8 maintained appropriately. In addition, the author advocates proactive Austroads Project No. ST1870 motorcycle specific network safety assessments and road safety audits, as well as fine-tuning in design parameters for roads carrying Austroads Publication No. AP-R515-16 significant volumes of motorcyclists (e.g. horizontal geometry, sight Publication date July 2016 lines, lane and shoulder width, intersection types, intersection quality and controls). It is also suggested that the range and detail of Pages 231 mitigation measures be expanded. Keywords © Austroads 2016 Motorcycle, motorcycle crash, motorcycle crash prevention, This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under motorcycle infrastructure, motorcycle treatments, motorcycle safety, the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any road safety process without the prior written permission of Austroads. This report has been prepared for Austroads as part of its work to promote improved Australian and New Zealand transport outcomes by providing expert technical input on road and road transport issues. Individual road agencies will determine their response to this report following consideration of their legislative or administrative arrangements, available funding, as well as local circumstances and priorities. Austroads believes this publication to be correct at the time of printing and does not accept responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of information herein. Readers should rely on their own skill and judgement to apply information to particular issues. Infrastructure Improvements to Reduce Motorcycle Casualties Summary Motorcycle crashes are a significant contributor to deaths and serious injury on our roads. As outlined in the Australian Transport Council’s National Road Safety Strategy, in Australia, motorcycle riders made up 16% of all fatalities in 2012, and 22% of serious injury casualties despite representing only a very small percentage of total traffic volume (one per cent of vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT)). The rate of motorcyclist deaths per registered motorcycles is five times higher than the rate of occupant deaths per registered 4-wheeled vehicles. In recent years a clear upward trend in motorcycle crashes was identified in Australia and New Zealand. This report highlights the relationship between motorcycle crashes and road infrastructure, and specifically, how road infrastructure influences both the likelihood of a crash occurring or the resulting severity of a crash. The investigation included: a comprehensive literature review, crash analysis, the identification of road infrastructure elements as crash factors, the identification of effective mitigation measures and their likely safety benefit and consultations with stakeholders. The objectives of the project were to: determine the influence of road infrastructure elements in motorcycle-related crashes, and identify countermeasures that have the potential to reduce the incidence and/or severity of such crashes. Road infrastructure elements considered included design parameters (e.g. horizontal alignment, superelevation), road surface condition (including skid resistance), roadside hazards and overall maintenance condition. The project is focused on providing guidance to practitioners, including a number of recommended updates to the Austroads Guides to Road Design, Traffic Management, Road Safety and Asset Management, some of these updates can be drawn directly from this report and some will need to be further researched before being changed within the Guides. It is also hoped that the project will contribute to several of the objectives within the Australian National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020, including safety improvements on popular motorcycle routes (a specific action for the first three years of the strategy) and providing advice ahead of plans to introduce motorcycle black spot/black length programs in all jurisdictions (a ‘future’ action). A literature review of national and international guides, publications and research papers demonstrated that guidance of road infrastructure elements that adversely affect motorcycle crash risk is available, however this is not comprehensive enough for a practitioner to make engineering decisions considering risk, cost and benefit. A crash analysis was undertaken to demonstrate the relationship between motorcycle crashes, travel purpose period, vehicle configuration (i.e. motorcycle only and multiple vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle), road geometry, road layout (e.g. intersection type) and crash types. For comparative purposes, vehicle crashes at the same location were also analysed. This demonstrated that motorcycle crashes are effected by travel purpose period, with a majority of motorcycle crashes occurring during the week. Explanations of why, and how, road infrastructure elements influence motorcycle crash risk were researched and are provided. This primarily involved identifying how the design and condition of road infrastructure elements can influence either the likelihood of a crash occurring or the resulting severity of a crash. Where a number of elements that would increase the likelihood or severity of a crash were present concurrently, the proportionate increase in risk was demonstrated using the AusRAP model. The report has built up a compendium of treatments, presented and explained in such a way that engineering decisions to manage these elements can be justified, even if outside of existing design warrants, and asset management and maintenance practice. Austroads 2016 | page i Infrastructure Improvements to Reduce Motorcycle Casualties The report highlights that motorcycles should be identified as an individual road user group