Develop a Retrofit Design for Guard Fence System to Enhance Motorcycle Safety
Data shows that in Texas, motorcycle impact-related fatalities and injuries are rising over the past recent years. From 2010-2016, there have been more than 3,330 fatalities and almost 13,800 incapacitating injuries related to crashes involving motorcycle riders in Texas. Based upon previous studies, there is a trend for motorcycle fatalities related to barrier impacts to be consistently increasing over time with the increase in the numbers of motorcyclists. Other studies show that nationally, there are more fatal motorcycle-guardrail collisions than fatal car-guardrail collisions. Motorcycle collisions with roadside systems are frequently much more severe for their riders than for users of other vehicles, as these roadside safety systems are not typically designed with the special needs of motorcyclists in mind. There are no guidelines addressing proper use of motorcycle retrofit barriers. There is a need to develop an appropriately designed guardrail system retrofit to address motorcycle-rider fatalities associated with barrier impacts, which can happen with the rider being either in a sliding or upright position. Objectives of this project include: Identifying guard fence components that are contributing to severe and fatal injuries to the errant rider. Developing retrofit design options for a motorcycle-friendly guard fence system and investigating the performance of this developed mitigation strategy to reduce impact severity of the motorcycle riders impacts. Conduct full-scale crash tests to verify the performance of the systems. Providing guidance for placement at appropriate high speed roadways locations that are more likely to be associated with motorcycle impact fatalities and severe injuries.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Completed
- Funding: $876264
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Contract Numbers:
0-6994
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Sponsor Organizations:
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX United States 78701-2483 -
Project Managers:
Jensen, Darrin
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Performing Organizations:
Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station
Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX United States 77843-3135 -
Principal Investigators:
Schulz, Nathan
- Start Date: 20180831
- Expected Completion Date: 20230831
- Actual Completion Date: 20230831
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Crash tests; Guardrails; Motorcycle crashes; Motorcycles; Safety
- Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01690746
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: 0-6994
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Jan 11 2019 3:10PM