IAM RoadSmart calls for ‘cheese cutter’ cable barriers to be replaced with a more motorcyclist friendly option

• The road safety charity has launched a petition calling for Highways Authorities across the UK to commit to their decommissioning by the end of the decade

New figures show that almost 150 miles of cable barriers – which pose a safety threat to motorcyclists – remain on England’s roads.

The cable barriers are known for their ‘cheese cutter’ effect on bikers unlucky enough to hit them on collision while any unprotected posts that hold the wires in place can cause major trauma to those who hit them at high speed.

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart is calling for them to be scrapped and replaced with a safer alternative by the end of the decade.

Barriers, which can be constructed of cable, concrete and steel, can be found alongside roads or constituting the central reservation. They account for three quarters (76%) of fatalities or serious injuries when impacted by those on two wheels. This compares to just 16 percent of other road users, demonstrating the risk barriers in general pose. Motorcycles are also 33 times more likely to become involved in a fatal single barrier incident than cars. [i] When cable barriers come into play, the risk is magnified.

A Parliamentary question dated February 26 found that 143 miles (230 kms) of cable barriers are present on motorways and on the wider strategic network in England. These cable barriers are also present on roads in Wales, and Scotland, however they are being removed in Northern Ireland.[ii]

Cable barriers present an issue for motorcyclists because of their upright posts, whereas a standard guardrail has no protruding parts. These posts are more likely to seriously injure or kill a motorcyclist, sometimes by decapitation. Additionally, the jagged edges of wire ropes put riders at risk of laceration.[iii]

Norway, which has a “vision zero” approach, meaning that no person should be killed or seriously injured in traffic, banned the future installation of cable barriers in 2006, with Norway’s Motorcyclist Association (NMCU) arguing that they are dangerous for motorcyclists.[iv] National Highways, which manages the strategic network in England, has already taken a proactive approach on some motorway stretches, replacing wired reservations with concrete.

IAM RoadSmart has launched a campaign for Highways Authorities across the UK to commit to their decommissioning by the end of the decade. To sign the petition, click here: https://www.iamroadsmart.com/safer-barriers-for-safer-roads/

IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said: “Motorcyclists have long been calling for these dangerous cable barriers to be removed, and yet across England, almost 150 miles of wire rope remain. We are calling on the Government to remove and replace them with a Motorcyclist Protection System (MPS) which includes protected posts. In addition, whenever a barrier is installed, the distance from the road should be as large as possible to allow for evasive manoeuvres and maximum emergency braking in the event of a collision which might reduce the force of the collision impact with the barrier. Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users in Britain, with fatalities rising by 8 percent in 2024 despite an overall decline in road deaths, according to Department for Transport data.[v] We need to be doing everything we can to make their journeys safer.”

National Motorcyclists Council Executive Director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “Cable barriers have been a controversial risk to motorcyclists since their introduction. Their basic design represents a very serious injury risk for any motorcyclist who comes into contact with them as a result of an incident. Although collision attenuator systems do exist, they are only a partially effective compromise and not widely used. Given the relatively low mileage of wire ropes which remain in the UK, the NMC feels it is time that wire rope barriers should be consigned to history and is today supporting IAM RoadSmart’s call for them to be replaced by more motorcyclist friendly options. Their removal will also help reduce glare from oncoming headlights which would be a further safety benefit for all road users.”

ENDS