Victorian bikers call for ban on wire-rope safety barriers for state’s country roads

VICTORIA’S peak motorcyclist group has called for a statewide ban on wire-rope safety barriers, saying they are lethal to riders and won’t save lives.

A section of wire rope barrier on the Princes Highway.

VICTORIA’S peak motorcyclist group has called for a statewide ban on wire-rope safety

barriers, saying they are lethal to riders and won’t save lives.

The Victorian Motorcycle Council wants the state government to cancel the installation of

the barriers along 330km of country road black spots.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced last week the rollout of the median barriers as part of

a $1 billion package to cut the road toll.

The VMC is stepping up its campaign against the barriers, citing research showing that the

barrier posts are likely to impale or bludgeon a falling rider.

VMC spokesman John Eacott said concrete barriers were safer and more economical in the

long run.

“Wire-rope barriers might be cheaper to install but they cost more if they are repaired and

maintained properly.’’ 

$1B FOR COUNTRY ROADS

Many riders refer to the wire barriers as “cheese cutters” claiming that the ropes slice riders

when they slide into them.

But this is largely considered a myth, and even the VMC says the

term is a misnomer.

The steel posts that suspend the wire were the dangerous element, Mr Eacott said.

And although some padding had been placed on some posts, this measure would not help a

high-impact crash, he said.

“Wire-rope safety barriers fail motorcycle riders at every stage,’’ Mr Eacott said.

Research by German vehicle inspection company DEKRA and the Monash University found

that the risk of injury to a rider hitting a wire rope barrier was high.

“In all the simulated wire-rope barrier collisions, the wires guided the motorcycle into the

posts leading to heavy contact with the post,’’ the report said.

A spokeswoman for Roads and Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan said the government

was building the barriers and taking other measures to reduce the road toll to below 200 by

2020.

“Overseas experience has shown that barrier protection has resulted in a 74 per cent

reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes involving motorcyclists,’’ she said.

“The number of motorcycle crashes that have occurred this year is alarming, with too many

due to inexperienced, unlicensed individuals riding motorbikes with many not wearing

protective clothing.’’

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@IanRoyall