Call to remove dangerous cable barriers from central reservations

New figures show that almost 150 miles of cable barriers – which pose a safety threat to motorcyclists – remain on England’s roads.

The cable barriers are known for their ‘cheese cutter’ effect on bikers unlucky enough to hit them on collision while any unprotected posts that hold the wires in place can cause major trauma to those who hit them at high speed.

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart is calling for them to be scrapped and replaced with a safer alternative by the end of the decade.

Barriers, which can be constructed of cable, concrete and steel, can be found alongside roads or constituting the central reservation. They account for three quarters (76%) of fatalities or serious injuries when impacted by those on two wheels.

This compares to just 16% of other road users, demonstrating the risk barriers in general pose. Motorcycles are also 33 times more likely to become involved in a fatal single barrier incident than cars. When cable barriers come into play, the risk is magnified.

National Highways, which manages the strategic network in England, has already taken a proactive approach on some motorway stretches, replacing wired reservations with concrete.

IAM RoadSmart has launched a campaign for Highways Authorities across the UK to commit to their decommissioning by the end of the decade. To sign the petition, click here: https://www.iamroadsmart.com/safer-barriers-for-safer-roads/

Nicholas Lyes, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and standards, said: “Motorcyclists have long been calling for these dangerous cable barriers to be removed, and yet across England, almost 150 miles of wire rope remain.

“We are calling on the Government to remove and replace them with a Motorcyclist Protection System (MPS) which includes protected posts. In addition, whenever a barrier is installed, the distance from the road should be as large as possible to allow for evasive manoeuvres and maximum emergency braking in the event of a collision which might reduce the force of the collision impact with the barrier.”