Development of MASH Test Procedures for Motorcycles

State transportation agencies are faced with challenges regarding motorcycle safety related to roadside safety hardware (RSH). Real world crash data shows that impacts against roadside safety systems represent a higher risk of fatality and incapacitating injury for motorcycle riders than for vehicle occupants. The design, construction, maintenance, and retrofit of roadway facilities requires an inclusive approach that considers the interactions between a vehicle and the roadway. This approach is essential so that the facility can provide the safest possible driving environment. If barrier systems can be designed to mitigate the severity of impacts of seated and unseated motorcycle riders with traffic barriers, then these barrier systems can be adopted by transportation agencies as an effective countermeasure at appropriate locations to provide a significant reduction in motorcyclist fatalities and incapacitating injuries. Although other international crash testing standards include consideration of motorcyclists in barrier design, the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) does not currently contain protocols for testing roadside barriers for motorcyclist impacts. Consequently, roadside safety barriers in the United States are not designed, tested, or evaluated with contemplation of impact by vulnerable motorcyclists.  Several state departments of transportation (DOTs) have taken independent action to incorporate motorcyclist safety into their barrier systems. The scope of this project is to develop a comprehensive approach and recommend test procedures for evaluating RSH under motorcycle impact conditions. This research will provide the opportunity to develop national guidelines for testing and evaluation of roadside safety systems with motorcycle safety as an emphasis. Application of nationally recognized uniform and scientifically supported methods will support the development of motorcyclist-friendly hardware solutions for implementation by transportation agencies.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5536
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $500000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 22-60

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Turner, Anne-Marie

• Start Date: 20230725
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash tests; Motorcycles; Test procedures
• Identifier Terms: AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01888643
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 22-60
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 25 2023 8:46AM