Motorcycle blackspot projects

Motorcycle blackspots are different from general blackspots

Some road conditions are particularly dangerous for motorcycles such as:

• potholes
• corrugations
• debris
• rough surfaces
• gravel on corners
• limited sight distance
• and sharp curves.

While these conditions can create motorcycle crash blackspots, there may not be sufficient crashes to meet the criteria for treatment under normal blackspot funding programs.

In many cases motorcyclist crashes occur where no other vehicles are involved (e.g., single vehicle run-off-the-road or loss-of-control crashes).

The Motorcycle Blackspot Program identifies and treats road locations that have recorded multiple motorcycle injury crashes and provides an immediate improvement in rider safety.

How locations are selected as motorcycle blackspots

Identified locations with high motorcycle crash numbers undergo a special field assessment by expert riders and engineers, and the specially targeted treatments for each site are reviewed by the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council (VMAC). Over 120 projects have been approved from the start of the program in October 2002.

Motorcycle blacklengths, long routes and blackspot intersections

In 2005, the program was extended to include intersection blackspot locations and high risk long routes for motorcyclists.

Intersection projects are reviewed and developed in the same way as loss-of-control crash locations.

The aim with long routes is to make conditions consistent along the length of the road and include clear warnings and road markings - a “no surprises” approach. The solution involves lower cost road treatments applied along the whole length of the road.

Blackspot locations

Sample locations and typical problems treated under the loss-of-control blackspot projects are shown below.

To see a detailed description of all motorcycle blackspot sites approved for treatment, download a list of approved blackspot sites. ( Adobe Acrobat PDF - 28k)

Sample locations and typical problems