Abstract

Motorcyclists contribute significantly to road trauma around the world through the high incidence of serious injuries and fatalities. The role of roadside safety barriers in such trauma is an area of growing concern among motorcyclists, road authorities, and road safety researchers and advocates. This article presents a case series analysis of motorcyclists that were fatally injured following a collision with a roadside barrier during the period 2001 to 2006 in Australia and New Zealand. The crash mechanics of the fatal motorcycle–barrier collisions are detailed, with the aims of providing an understanding of the manner in which these types of crashes occur, informing motorcycle–barrier crash test protocols, and for crash reconstruction purposes. The detailed descriptions of the mechanics of the crashes include barrier and motorcycle types, crash postures, motorcyclist kinematics, precrash speeds, impact trajectory angles, and motorcyclist kinetic energy dissipation on the barrier. Recommendations are made with regards to appropriate motorcycle–barrier crash test protocols.

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