For motorcyclists, maintaining the correct line of turns is of utmost importance. The Austrian road safety office KFV studied the impact of innovative road markings on motorcyclists on dangerous bends in Tyrol and provided evidence of success: white ovals on the road encouraged motorcyclists to choose safer straight bends and reduced the number of accidents involving motorcycles by 80 percent.
Make turns safely, following the correct bicycle line – this is what you should do. Correct turning lines are absolutely necessary for motorcyclists, as cars do not have crumple zones. Accident statistics show that most accidents involving motorcycles on Austrian roads occur on turns.
Many motorcycle accidents are caused by poor turn-line selection: if the upper body is too far to the left on a left turn, i.e. into the oncoming lane, it is usually impossible to turn spontaneously when an oncoming vehicle suddenly appears without causing an accident. If a collision with an oncoming vehicle can still be avoided, the car will suddenly lift off its low bank angle and continue along a tight turning radius – a difficult feat requiring driving skill of the highest order, but it does not always work.
The Road Safety Commission (KFV) analysed accident data from Statistics Austria and found that choosing the wrong bike route often leads to disaster. “Leaving the road on the right side when making a left turn” is the second most common type of motorcycle accident after “falling from a vehicle”. It is a tragic demonstration of poor turning manoeuvres and the importance of choosing safe cycling routes, especially on tight bends with poor visibility.
To reduce the high risk of accidents in these dangerous areas, the KFV research team, in cooperation with the state of Tyrol, the regional administration and local road maintenance services, developed a new type of optically conductive road marking, which was used in 2019 on 19 key bends in Tyrol where other risk reduction measures had failed: white oval films are strung together like a string of pearls along the center line and are designed to provide a greater distance to the oncoming lane. A before-and-after analysis yielded impressive success results: the innovative optical support reduced the number of accidents involving motorcycles on the test bends by 80 percent.
An impassable curve is a dangerous terrain, and the smaller the radius of the curve, the greater the danger. Here, motorcyclists must choose a safe riding route. In the Tyrol region of the Alps, there are some of these infamous bends due to the terrain. The KFV research team studied the accident rates on these classic high-risk bends in detail and carried out precise tests of the positioning and real conditions on motorcycles on site. As a safety measure that could be implemented quickly, the installation of optical floor guides was a top priority for the project team.
Motorcyclists generally avoid riding on road markings, even if they are grippy and non-slip, at least new ones, even in the rain. In developing the new oval membrane, the interdisciplinary KFV team used this basic principle of two-wheeler riding technique, which is rightly promoted in driving schools.
At the beginning of summer 2019, 19 individual dangerous bends on rural roads in Tyrol were equipped with innovative ground markings. The film material used was 3M Stamark 380. This material was chosen for a number of reasons, including its particularly high coefficient of friction and the fact that it could be driven on immediately after application of the film.
In 2023, all crash sites identified in the 2019 pilot study were re-examined, taking into account the reduction in mileage in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
Based on the latest research results, the KFV research group recommends the following measures to mitigate the consequences of dangerous bends:
The elliptical trainer is also enjoying success internationally. Beyond their borders, countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Scotland, Spain and Australia are also conducting pilot studies on road markings that improve safety on single-lane highways.
Recommendations for safer turns are also included in the SMC and FEMA report, Safer Roads for Motorcycle Riders.
Post time: Mar-12-2025