Scotland's multi-award-winning PRIME road markings trial has one of the top billings at this year's Road Expo, with safety expert Professor Alex Stedmon discussing the concept.
Designed on Safe System principles, PRIME (Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment) successfully tested a new approach to reduce collisions involving motorcyclists at 22 sites that had been highlighted as particularly dangerous.
The project won Road Safety Scheme of the Year at the 2023 Highways Awards last month as well as scooping the 'best of the best' Judges' Special Merit Award.
Road marking firm WJ Group helped deliver the trial in conjunction with Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland. Across the 22 sites, WJ marked ‘gates’ on the road surface designed and positioned by the research team to encourage motorcyclists to take the safest line through the corner at the correct speed.
Researchers found statistically significant improvements in collision data at 18 locations, and positive trends at another three over the three years of the trial.
The Safe System is an approach to road safety based on the belief that road casualties can be reduced by taking steps to minimise the risk of human error, encompassing roads, speed, vehicles, road users and post-crash care.
The roads element of the Safe System includes ‘self-explaining’ roads, which help drivers understand intuitively what is expected of them.
To coincide with Road Safety Week 2023, from 19 to 25 November, WJ is backing calls for Safe System principles to be rolled out across more of the UK’s road network.
CEO Wayne Johnston said: ‘High quality road markings reduce the scope for error on the part of all road users because they make safety-critical information, such as lane or give-way lines, as clear as possible.
‘The PRIME trial is a clear example of how improvements to road design, based on the imaginative and effective use of road markings can have a significant positive impact on road safety. It offers clear evidence that the approach to road safety outlined in the Safe System can be highly effective.’
To find out more about WJ’s involvement in the PRIME trial, visit: www.wj.uk/projects/prime-project.
Road Expo Scotland, Scotland's largest dedicated road, transport and mobility event for Scottish local authorities, government and its commercial suppliers returns to the SEC, Glasgow next week on 28-29 November.
