How can a simple road-safety measure help prevent motorcycle crashes? A forthcoming webinar, organised by FERSI member KFV (Austria) together with international partners, will explore the potential of targeted road markings designed to influence motorcycle riders’ positioning in curves.
Riding schools traditionally teach that road markings are slippery. This is not in fact the case, but the belief is strong enough to shape riding behaviour – and it can be turned to good use. Riders tend to cut curves, increasing the risk of conflicts with oncoming traffic, particularly on bends with limited forward visibility. Placing markings precisely where riders should not position themselves (for example, close to the centre line on tight left-hand curves) can therefore encourage safer trajectories. According to the organisers, several studies and crash statistics have demonstrated the effectiveness of the approach, with an average of 80% of crashes in the curves concerned potentially avoided.
The webinar “Road Markings for Motorcyclists’ Safety” will bring together experts from several countries that have already implemented or investigated the measure. Speakers will share experiences and lessons learned concerning stakeholder acceptance and resistance, safety impacts, technical and operational challenges, and recommendations for successful deployment. The international programme includes contributions from road authorities, research institutions and motorcycle-sector organisations in Slovenia, Australia, Luxembourg, Czechia, Spain (Catalonia), Germany, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland, and Norway.
The initiative offers an opportunity to exchange practical knowledge on a targeted and cost-effective road safety intervention, while strengthening international cooperation on motorcycle safety.
The webinar will be held via Microsoft Teams. Registration and further information are available on the KFV website.