Section 6. Highway and environment
Overview
Roads should be designed, built, and maintained to accommodate the safety needs of all vehicles, including motorcycles, and many roads meet this goal well. However, some roadway construction and maintenance features that address the safety of four-wheeled vehicles may be hazardous to motorcyclists. Some environmental conditions cannot be avoided, such as wet roads, which affect motorcycles far more than other vehicles. But many risks can be eliminated or reduced. Pavement ridges, potholes, manhole covers, railroad grade crossings, slippery pavement markings, steel plates, debris, and fluid spills all can affect motorcycle traction. Roadside barriers and sign supports can be dangerous when struck by motorcyclists. NCHRP (under review), Strategies A1 through A9, provides substantial discussion and examples of many roadway and environmental issues related to motorcycle safety.
Objective: Accommodate the safety needs of motorcyclists in road design, construction, and maintenance.
Strategy 6.1: Signage – Post specific warnings for motorcycle operators where hazardous conditions exist.
If hazardous permanent roadway features cannot be modified, motorcyclists should be warned of them through appropriate roadside signage.
Action steps:
- State departments of transportation and county and municipal highway offices inventory potentially hazardous sites and erect appropriate signage.
- State departments of transportation and county and municipal highway offices establish and promote communication channels for public to report hazardous sites.
- Riders and rider groups inform State departments of transportation and county and municipal highway offices of hazardous sites.
Promising practices:
- Illinois, New Hampshire, Oregon, Virginia, and other States use motorcycle-specific signage for various potential hazards.
- Many cities and regions have established pothole hotlines and internet notification systems for roadway hazards.
- See the comprehensive roadway motorcycle safety strategies used in Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, discussed in Strategy 6.3.
Resources and supporting activities:
- NCHRP (under review), Strategy A7, documents several examples.
Strategy 6.2: Maintenance – Reduce roadway debris; remove slippery sealants and road repair substances.
Roadway debris can be hazardous to all vehicles but can be especially dangerous to motorcycles. Similarly, slippery repair substances and roadway markings can be dangerous.
Action steps:
- State departments of transportation and county and municipal highway offices consider motorcyclists’ needs in all decisions on roadway maintenance, repair, and construction.
- State departments of transportation and county and municipal highway offices establish and promote communication channels for public to report hazardous conditions.
- Rider groups inform State departments of transportation and county and municipal highway offices of hazardous conditions.
Promising practices:
- See the comprehensive roadway motorcycle safety programs used in Oregon and Virginia, discussed in Strategy 6.3.
Resources and supporting activities:
- NCHRP (under review), Strategies A4-A6, provides extensive discussion and examples.
Strategy 6.3: Education – Educate road design and maintenance personnel about conditions that pose hazards to motorcycle operators.
If motorcycle safety is included in highway design, construction, and maintenance planning, then many conditions hazardous to motorcyclists can be eliminated or reduced. The first step is to educate design and maintenance management and staff regarding motorcycle safety issues that differ from the safety issues of four-wheeled vehicles.
Action steps:
- State departments of transportation and county and municipal highway offices meet with rider groups to discuss issues of concern.
- State departments of transportation and county and municipal highway offices incorporate motorcycle safety as a standard component of all training and operations, including routine roadway inspections, hazardous location studies, and traffic control and signage reviews.
Promising practices:
- Virginia formed a Motorcycle Safety Action Team whose actions included motorcycle information and education for highway engineers, revisions to the work zone manual, motorcycle-specific signage, and antiskid treatments for steel plates. For information, contact the Virginia Department of Transportation at Mark.Hodges@VDOT.Virginia.gov.
- The Oregon Department of Transportation consults with TEAM OREGON, the Oregon motorcycle safety and training center, when questions arise about a surface treatment’s affect on motorcycles. For information, contact Team Oregon at team.oregon@oregonstate.edu.
The Pennsylvania State Motorcycle Safety Coordinator participates in the Governor’s Strategic Highway Initiative and the Pennsylvania Mobility Plan where highway planning takes place. His participation ensures that motorcycling issues are included in the discussions and given priority.
Resources and supporting activities:
- No specific resources identified for this strategy.
References and notes for Section 6, Highway and environment
NAMS recommendations for States and communities on highway and environment
70. Post specific warnings for motorcyclists where unavoidable hazards exist.
73. Take steps to remove slippery sealants and repair substances applied to road surfaces.
74. Educate road design and maintenance personnel about conditions that pose hazards to motorcyclists.
75. Reduce roadway debris such as that resulting from uncovered loads and shorn retreads.
General references on highway and environment
- NCHRP (under review). Guide for Addressing Collisions Involving Motorcycles. Strategies A1 through A9 provide substantial discussion and examples of many roadway and environmental issues related to motorcycle safety. When released, the guide will be available at www.ch2m.com/nchrp/over/default.htm.
- The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides extensive information on highway design, construction, and maintenance (www.fhwa.dot.gov/).