According to the European Road Assessment Program, a new kind of safety barrier 'terminator' which has recently been installed on a number of UK roads is actually likely to increase the seriousness of personal injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents.
While the new 'terminators', which are placed at either end of a roadside crash barrier, are reportedly effective in lessening the severity of personal injuries suffered in car accidents, it appears designers have given little thought to the fates of those involved in motorcycle accidents.
In what could have a worrying implication for both the incidence of motorcycle accidents and the number of motorcycle accident claims, plans are afoot for the Highways Agency to install them across the entire UK trunk road network.
Dr Joanne Hill, head of research with Eurorap has commented that she believes the terminators were every bit as much a motorcycle accident hazard as the notoriously dangerous upright support posts.
She also claimed that the motorcycle accident danger of the terminators could be greatly reduced by padding them with polystyrene 'impact attenuators'.
*Where replacement vehicle costs can be recovered from the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. Where this person is untraceable or uninsured, or where there is a dispute over liability, a replacement vehicle cannot be provided.
* A temporary replacement hire motorcycle or scooter can usually be provided within 24 hours where hire costs can be recovered from the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. If this person is untraceable or uninsured, or where there is a dispute over liability, it may not be possible to provide a replacement bike. Please do still call us though, as we will always do everything we can to help.
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