Cheese cutter Articles from the UK

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Mesh barrier to cut biker deaths

A new-style crash barrier, which it is hoped will reduce motorcycle deaths, is being tested in County Durham.
The barrier, which has a containment mesh to absorb the energy of a rider during impact, is being fitted to a stretch of the A689 at Killhope.
The Biker-Safe system is already used in parts of Europe and is being fitted to a corner section of the A689, the scene of several biker accidents.
So far this year there have been two deaths involving bikers in the county.

Barrier support

Engineers from Durham County Council are fitting the barrier on a section of road close to the entrance to the Killhope Lead Mine Museum in upper Weardale.
A Durham Police spokesman said: "Normal roadside barriers are designed to retain cars, vans and trucks, but in many instances can be deadly for motorcyclists who collide with them. Biker-Safe has been designed to address the problem.
"A containment mesh is fitted to the lower section of the barrier to absorb the energy of the rider during impact.
"This ensures they do not strike the barrier support upright, which is one of the main causes of serious or fatal injuries."
It is hoped the new barriers will be installed in other parts of the county.
In County Durham there were 131 road accidents involving motorcycles in 2008, resulting in two riders losing their lives.
So far this year there have been 87, with two fatalities.

Barrier bid to cut biker road deaths
The North East has become the first place in the county to test a pioneering roadside barrier which could cut the number of biker deaths.
Engineers from Durham County Council have completed the installation of the device on a popular route with motorcyclists.
While normal roadside barriers are designed to hold in cars, vans and trucks, they can prove deadly for bikers who collide with them.
Nationally, riders and their passengers seriously injured or killed form a significant number of road casualties, partly because their vehicles do not benefit from safety equipment now in cars, such as airbags and crumple zones.
One report recently noted motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to be killed in a crash than those in cars and 15 times more likely to die if they hit a barrier.
The new type of barrier uses passive safety design from the bike and transfers it to the roadside, with mesh fitted to the lower part of the structure to absorb the energy of the rider on impact.\
This makes sure they do not hit the upright of the fence, which is one of the main causes of death and serious injuries.
The first barrier has been put in on the A689 near Killhope Lead Museum in Upper Weardale with further sites planned across the county.
Further safety measures are in the pipeline, with the council looking into whether special pads or other protections could be fixed to road signs and lampposts in vulnerable positions to reduce impact for bikers.
The council has also taken the unusual step of adding extra bauxite to road paint to improve the grip of yellow and white lines, as well as looking at ways of making drain covers and manholes less slippery.
In County Durham, there were 131 road accidents involving motorcycles in 2008, leaving two bikers dead.
So far this year there have been 87, again with two fatalities.
The safety move comes just days before Durham Constabulary's annual Bikewise event, held at police headquarters in Aykley Heads, Durham.
The family fun day is being staged this Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Attractions will include stunt riders, displays of trials and vintage bikes, with an appearance from the police dog section and accompanied rides on the force's skid pan also planned.
HM Plant will also be there with a star-studded selection of racers from the Honda team.
Admission for children is free, while adults are asked for a £2 donation which will go to local charities.

no pictures to show what it would look like.

[MSTRS:Me]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...d.php?t=105245

[XP@]

THIS CENTRAL reservation barrier could limit injuries and deaths to bikers if it were introduced in the UK.

Developed by two Spanish companies, the barrier is designed to mount onto an existing central reservation.

Instead of leaving the normal exposed uprights that pose a serious threat to bikers, this ingenious design features rubber mounted on rollers to lessen the speed at which a person decelerates, while the buffers on the rear, combined with the rubber rollers absorb force.

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