Mojacar sets standard for motorbike safety

ROAD safety for motorcyclists in the Mojacar area is set to be improved following a motion passed unanimously in a recent plenary meeting.

Opposition group, Somos Mojacar, put forward a proposal to replace or modify crash barriers on main roads around the town.

Somos Mojacar’s Jessica Simpson said that the current design which is made up of a single metal rail supported by posts is designed to protect drivers of four-wheeled vehicles in the case of a collision, but can cause serious injury or death to a motorcycle rider.

Simpson explained that in the event of a motorcycle hitting the crash barrier, the rider is propelled beneath the single rail which acts as a ‘guillotine,’ on many occasions causing amputation of limbs or spinal injuries.

According to a study undertaken by the group, traditional crash barriers, first installed throughout Spain in 1972, are the cause of 15 per cent of deaths in road accidents involving motorcycles.

A number of towns across Spain have already installed a new type of barrier which has two parallel rails which prevents the rider from sliding beneath the barrier.

Affected roads in Mojacar include the AL-6111 towards Turre, the AL-1203 from the petrol station and the AL-5107 near Sopalmo.

Simpson told EWN: “I am a regular motorcycle passenger and as the number of motorbikes on the roads continues to increase, we need our town to be as safe as possible for riders and I hope other towns follow suit.”

EWN spoke to Almeria-based motorcycle racing supremo, Antonio Maeso, who said: “There have been some horrific injuries suffered by riders in motorbike crashes involving barriers, this has led to the motorcycling world campaigning for a change to the design.”

Maeso, who has just returned to racing after suffering serious injuries in a crash at the Isle of Man TT races in 2013, added that the best way to ensure safety on a motorcycle is to ride within the speed limits and save high speeds for track days on dedicated circuits.