A new study is sounding the alarm on the hidden threat all motorcyclists are aware of: the steel safety barriers lining thousands of kilometres of roads.

Motorcyclists across Europe are familiar with the dangers of slippery curves and unexpected obstacles. Researchers confirm that these barriers, designed primarily to protect car occupants, are a serious risk to motorcyclists in a specific type of accident: upright crashes. When a rider hits a barrier in an upright position, their chest or abdomen often slams directly into the sharp upper edge of the guardrail. The research paper calls for better guardrails to protect motorcyclists in these upright crashes.

While ‘motorcycle-friendly’ barriers already exist to reduce injuries from sliding crashes, where riders slide into the barrier after falling off their bike, the upper edge of standard guardrails remains lethal in upright impacts. Published in the journal Infrastructures, the study reviews a wide range of patents and designs aimed at reducing the danger of upper-edge impacts. The research team, made up of safety engineers and infrastructure experts, assessed thirteen international designs for their potential to save lives, including both low-cost retrofits and high-tech barrier add-ons.

“Most existing solutions are focused on stopping sliding injuries, which is important,” the lead author said. “But we found that very few address the risk of what happens when a motorcyclist hits the upper rail head-on, still on the bike.” The researchers identified several promising designs, including one developed by Texas A&M University. Their retrofit adds a bent or flat steel plate on top of the guardrail, which helps spread out the force of an impact and prevent sharp-edge injuries. Another standout was a Spanish invention called P2025012, a steel element shaped to fit on top of the existing barrier. It’s simple, relatively cheap, and doesn’t interfere with things like water drainage or snowploughs, a big plus for road authorities.

A quote from the study: Clearly defined, evidence-based criteria must be established to evaluate the effectiveness of upper guard protection systems. This cannot be achieved without strong collaboration between motorcyclist associations, European institutions (such as FEMA and ETSC), the research community, and industry.

Most barriers in Europe are steel W-beams. When a car hits one, the system absorbs the energy by flexing and bending, which helps keep the vehicle on the road. But motorcycles don’t trigger the same response. A biker’s body is much lighter, and when it impacts the upper edge of the beam, there’s little energy absorption, just a hard, unforgiving edge. In sliding crashes, riders often go under the rail, where newer ‘motorcyclist protection systems’ (MPS) help prevent fatal injuries by covering the posts and lower sections. But the top edge is still uncovered in most cases. The risk is highest in curves, especially tight ones. According to European crash data, almost half of fatal motorcyclist accidents involve a single-vehicle crash, often in a curve. If a rider loses control but stays upright, their body is likely to hit the upper rail at chest height. With no protective gear for the torso, the consequences are often fatal.

Despite the availability of promising designs, most have not been widely adopted. The main reasons? Cost, complexity, maintenance, and a lack of standards. Some of the reviewed systems involve complex plastic covers or box-like structures over the entire barrier. While they may offer better protection, they are expensive, and sometimes difficult to install. And as we motorcyclists know, many of these systems are designed with motorways in mind, not the rural, winding roads where most fatal motorcycle crashes actually happen.

The study highlights the urgent need for clear technical standards for upright-crash protection. Right now, there’s no official requirement or test for how a barrier should respond when hit by a motorcyclist in an upright position. Without standards, there’s no legal or political pressure to install better systems, and road authorities tend to prioritize car safety due to liability and cost considerations.

The authors call for collaboration between road designers, safety researchers, governments, and organizations like the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA). They also stress the importance of involving motorcyclists in infrastructure decisions. “This is about making roads safe for everyone, not just car drivers,” the lead author said. “A relatively simple piece of steel could mean the difference between walking away from a crash, or not walking away at all.”

‘Guardrails meant to save lives shouldn’t become deadly obstacles for bikers.’

Until safer guardrails become the norm, riders should be aware of the risks and advocate for change:

• Report dangerous barriers: Especially on roads known for motorcycle traffic.
• Support your national riders’ organisation; they are pushing for better road design.
• Push for infrastructure audits: many roads have never been checked for motorcyclist safety. Riders can ask for motorcycle-specific audits, especially after crashes.
• Stay vocal: decision-makers often ignore motorcyclists, until they’re pressured not to.

As motorcycle fatalities remain high in Europe, especially on rural and curved roads, this new research is a timely wake-up call for road authorities. Guardrails meant to save lives shouldn’t become deadly obstacles for bikers. With smart, tested solutions already on the table, the only thing missing is the will to act.

Do you know of a dangerous stretch of road? Send your photos or videos to your national riders’ association. Your voice could save a life.

Written by Wim Taal

Source: MDPI

Top image: AI generated