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Develop a Retrofit Design for Guard Fence System to Enhance Motorcycle Safety

What Was the Need?

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.

What's the Solution?

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.

Project Number

0-6994

Status

Completed

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Project Details

Start Date

8/31/2018

End Date

8/31/2023

Performing Institution(s)

Texas A & M Transportation Institute (TTI)

Research Team

RS: Nathan Schulz

Sponsor

Project Manager

Darrin Jensen

Contract Specialist

Emily Ruiz

TxDOT Advisor

Jane Lundquist, DES
Ken Mora, DES
John Bilyeu, MNT
Ryan Sales, ABL

Amount Funded

$876,264

Source

RFP 19-220 Retrofit Design of Guard Fence System to Accommodate Motorcycle Safety

Publications from this Project

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Publications Note

For recently completed projects without reports listed, please contact the Research Supervisor (RS) listed in Project Details if information is needed about the status of research findings.

More TxDOT Projects Like This

Functional Area

Safety and Operations

Index Terms

Guardrails
Impact tests
Motorcycle crashes
Motorcycles
Safety

Lead University

TTI

Researcher

Schulz, Nathan

TxDOT District

MNT
DES
ABL

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Record Added:

11/7/2018

Record Updated:

2/28/2024 5:30 AM EST

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