Making roadways safer for motorcycles

9/13/2012

MAKING ROADWAYS SAFER FOR MOTORCYCLES

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida Annual Conference Orlando, Florida September 11, 2012

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

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Operational Differences Types of Machines, Types of Riders 3. Bumps, Holes, Cracks and Loose Material 4. Lane Ridges, Rises and Lane Changes 5. Grooved Surfaces and Bridge Deck Surfaces 6. Joints on Bridges, Lanes and Railroad Crossings 7. Utility Covers, Grates and Steel Plates 8. Painted Pavement Markings, Raised Pavement Markers, Pavement Marking Removal and Signage 9. Curves and Shoulders 10. Work Zone Hazards 11. Night Work Zones 12. Warning Signs

Operational Differences

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As a single wheel turns, it is subject to centrifugal forces and gravity that keep it upright. This gyroscopic motion can be significantly affected by the road surface.

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Types of Machines, Types of Riders

Types of Machines, Types of Riders

The smoother the road, the less issues presented to the motorcyclist.

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9/13/2012

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Types of Machines, Types of Riders

Types of Machines, Types of Riders

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Bumps, Holes, Cracks and Loose Material

Lane Ridges, Rises and Lane Changes

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Grooved Surfaces and Bridge Deck Surfaces

Joints on Bridges, Lanes and Railroad Crossings

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9/13/2012

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Utility Covers, Grates and Steel Plates

Painted Pavement Markings, Raised Pavement Markers and Signage

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Pavement Marking Removal

Curves and Shoulders

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Work Zone Hazards

Work Zone Hazards The Obvious

Work zones tend to be more dangerous for motorists.

Bikers are especially at risk for the following hazards: • Rocks and debris on the road • Road drop-offs and uneven pavement • Shifting lanes • Pooling water • Suddenly stopped traffic • Workers near the road • Areas with no shoulders

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9/13/2012

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles Work Zone Hazards The Not So Obvious

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles Work Zones Loose Material

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles Work Zone Hazards Construction Traffic

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles Work Zones and Road Hazards

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Work Zones and Road Hazards

Night Work Zones

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9/13/2012

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Warning Signs

SLOW DOWN!!

Motorcycle specific signs with a motorcycle and rider pictured.

“Motorcycles Use Extreme Caution” “Uneven Pavement” or “Grooved Pavement” “Steel Plates Ahead” “Open Joints on Bridge”

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles Design

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles Construction

Establish a process for the periodic review of other state programs for both state and nonstate roads including procedures and best practices to improve roadway engineering design related to motorcycle safety.

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Maintenance Design, Construction and a Little Maintenance • Longitudinal Joint Notched Wedge • Safety Edge Shoulder Treatment

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9/13/2012

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles Design Index 600 Sheet 10 Travel Lane Treatment

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles Longitudinal Joint Notched Wedge • The Notch Section pre-compacts and shapes the “notch”, the vertical drop off of the

top • of the asphalt mat. The depth of this notch is adjustable.

Difference is 1-1/2 inch or less

• The Wedge Section pre-compacts and shapes the wedge, or tapered section, of the

mat

• No treatment is needed between travel lanes

• edge. It also controls the vertical drop at the outer edge of the tapered section.

• The Wedge Section width is approximately 10”.

Difference is 3 inches or less • 1:4 slope or flatter

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Longitudinal Joint Notched Wedge

Longitudinal Joint Notched Wedge

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Longitudinal Joint Notched Wedge

Longitudinal Joint Notched Wedge

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9/13/2012

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Longitudinal Joint Notched Wedge

Longitudinal Joint

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Safety Edge Shoulder Treatment

Safety Edge Shoulder Treatment The Safety Edge Shoe creates the Safety Edge. It is a special edging device that can be installed on new or existing resurfacing equipment.

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Safety Edge Shoulder Treatment Sharp, steep pavement edge drop-offs can contribute to crashes.

Safety Edge Shoulder Treatment • Pavement edge drop-off on highways has been linked to many serious crashes, including fatal collisions. To mitigate vertical drop-offs, FHWA advocates installing the Safety Edge on pavements during paving or resurfacing projects. This technology allows drivers who drift off highways to return to the pavement safely. • Roadway departures account for over half of all fatal crashes. Not all of these crashes involve speeders and drunk drivers. Some could have been easily prevented if a vertical pavement edge drop-off had not been present.

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9/13/2012

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Safety Edge Shoulder Treatment The FHWA has joined with state and local agencies in 20 states to sponsor or initiate project demonstrations installing this technology. Working together with State partners, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and the industry on this 21st century initiative, we can prevent the tragedy of pavement edge drop-offs.

• Fatalities and Work Zone Fatalities

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

• The number of fatal injuries involving motorcyclists has

increased nationally from 3,365 in 2002 to 5,409 in 2008.

Fortunately in 2009 the total number of fatal injuries decreased to 4,595.

• Additionally from 2006 to the end 2010 there were 336 work zone related crashes resulting in 82 incapacitating accidents and 10 fatalities. Source: NHTSA.

Florida Motorcycle Fatalities Florida Motorcycle Crashes and Injuries

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles

The objective is to raise awareness of the issues that motorcyclists deal with relative to the design, construction, and maintenance of roadways.

We looked at different areas that present unique challenges to the motorcycling public.

The job of the designers and construction and maintenance personnel is to provide a safe, durable pavement for all road users, whether they drive an 18-wheeler or riding a two-wheeled motorcycle. Remember to look at your project through the eyes of a motorcyclist.

And don’t forget our friends on bicycles!

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9/13/2012

Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles Although there is not much we can do for this guy, there is a lot we can do.

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