Wire (cheese cutter) barriers

**bert_is_evil** · 24th October 2007, 08:04

Copy of Pixie's email (modified to suit MP) and response from Marian Hobbs

Hello Marian

As a member of the New Zealand motorcycling community, I am deeply saddened by the recent death of Daniel Evans on the Auckland motorway as a result of his collision with the "cheese-cutter" barrier. We have previously voiced our concerns to LTNZ and Transit NZ regarding the danger to motorcyclists from these barriers to no avail, now as predicted we have had a horrendous fatality of a twenty one year old motorcyclist who's body was sliced in two by the barrier - it was only a matter of time. It is my opinion that these barriers should be modified without delay, other countries have recognised the danger and modified their barriers in addition to banning any new installation.

I hope you can see the need to raise the issue of wire rope barriers on our roads in parliament as a matter of urgency. Thank you for your time

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks, kelly. I will raise this matter with the Minister of transport. i too was shocked to learn of their danger to motor cyclists as a result of that accident. Marian

**motorbyclist** · 24th October 2007, 11:43

the saddest part is that it has required a death to get any action. you'd think whoever decided to start installing them would've put plastic on them from day one.

clearly somebody at ltnz wasn't thinking - which it's my understanding we're paying them for

**MSTRS:Me** · 24th October 2007, 11:50

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

the saddest part is that it has required a death to get any action. you'd think whoever decided to start installing them would've put plastic on them from day one.

clearly somebody at ltnz wasn't thinking - which it's my understanding we're paying them for

Situation Normal....

**Hailwood** · 24th October 2007, 14:58

Count me in for when that happens..let me know when...also added my comments to those very intelligent people on Tardeme (Buzz122)

**Ozzie** · 24th October 2007, 16:52

Myth busters tonight on prime has a segment on precisely this topic, what can a cable do, possibly something worth while in that.

And.....

An idea of a visible peaceful protest.....

In each Major city, as many bikers as possible, same time of day, an organised ride, to arrive simultaneously at either a parliamentary or ltsa office, each biker with a block of cheese, dismount and stack them out the front in full view, with a suitable sign.

**motorbyclist** · 24th October 2007, 17:52

here's a suitable sign:

LTNZ's value of human life is less than the cost of a plastic cover over cheese wire barriers

and i was wondering, in light of the cheesewire test videos posted earlier, how ltnz can say using a cheesewire on a centreline will prevent accidents - that car went over a metre into what would have been oncoming traffic!

**Ozzie** · 24th October 2007, 18:03

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

how ltnz can say using a cheesewire on a centreline will prevent accidents - that car went over a metre into what would have been oncoming traffic!

Was wondering the same thing, specially just south of the Bamobays, near Rangiri I think, where it is on the centre line, and both sides of the road.

WTF?

As for signs, there are possibly positions for 2, top one over the cab "WARNING - Cheese Ahead!" bottom, over the tail gate "R.I.P up the Cheese Cutters, not Motorcyclists"

**motorbyclist** · 24th October 2007, 18:27

i was thinking last night that perhaps a more graphic - yet illegal, expensive, and potentially dangerous - way to make a point would be to chuck a few sheep/pig carcasses off the back of a ute into those things on the motorway.

obviously not the most sensible, legal, nor viable solution....

**sunhuntin** · 24th October 2007, 18:34

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

i was thinking last night that perhaps a more graphic - yet illegal, expensive, and potentially dangerous - way to make a point would be to chuck a few sheep/pig carcasses off the back of a ute into those things on the motorway.

obviously not the most sensible, legal, nor viable solution....

yeh... itd be better, more sensible and more viable to use a politician. why waste good bbq meat?

**Cynic** · 24th October 2007, 20:51

I don't think these have been posted before:

Gabler 2006 - The Risk of Fatality in Motorcycle Crashes with Roadside Barriers, Virginia Tech

VicRoads 2001 - Clear Zones and Roadside Hazards

A bit of bedtime reading

**cooneyr** · 24th October 2007, 22:21

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

... i do not place the value of a cagers life any higher than yours or mine. you cannot place a value on a life, no matter whos it is. the wealthy are not worth more than we are, and the poor are not worth less....

Unfortunately we have to put a dollar value on a life or injury to carry out economic analysis. I dont know the detail of how the figure was arrived at but if crash savings are to be achieved by any project the value of the savings generally far outweighs travel time or vehicle operating costs. The problem generally is determining how bigger improvement to safety a project will have.

Originally Posted by Ixion

That is another point. They are DAMN hard to see at night. Why do they not have reflectorised markings?

There is "suppose" to be reflectors on the top of the posts.

Cheers R

**motorbyclist** · 24th October 2007, 22:49

yep, really going to stop a head on

**swbarnett** · 25th October 2007, 07:26

Originally Posted by Ozzie

Myth busters tonight on prime has a segment on precisely this topic, what can a cable do, possibly something worth while in that.

Trouble is it's not the wires that are the problem (so I've been told).

**JKWNZ** · 25th October 2007, 08:32

Its likely they can fiddle the numbers for or against the wire in an economic case.

The real issue is more likely changing Transits policy on the matter... after all I doubt whether cycle lines are cost effective, they are however listed in Transits policy as part of their mandate.

**Pixie** · 25th October 2007, 09:14

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Not the physical width of the barrier in question, the free space between the traffic flow and said barrier. Installing barriers of any sort requires significantly more road width, and I don't see too much widening or abandonment of lanes going on when they're introduced to any given bit of road...

Wire rope barriers actually require more space - 6 metres between lanes - if the design specs are adhered to.