Infrastructure countermeasures to mitigate motorcyclist crashes in Europe

"The number and rate of motorcyclist deaths on U.S. roads are rising dramatically. The Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and National Cooperative Highway Research Program sponsored a scanning study of five European countries to evaluate infrastructure improvements to aid motorcyclists. The scan team found that the types of infrastructure safety improvements used in Europe, with the exception of motorcycle-friendly roadside barriers, were those that generally improved safety for all vehicle classes. The biggest differences the team observed were in behavioral safety, helmet laws, training, and licensing. The team also noted great cooperation between road authorities and stakeholder groups representing motorcycle riders. Team recommendations for U.S. implementation include filling in knowledge gaps to improve motorcycle safety, conducting research on motorcycle infrastructure safety, and updating design guidelines to accommodate motorcyclist safety"--Tech. report doc. page.