The campaign for safer barriers was launched in 2007 after the tragic death of a young motorcyclist on the Wire Rope median barrier on Auckland’s southern motorway at Papakura. The impact of the collision with the WRB cut both the rider and his bike in half. A large protest ride was organised and a petition was started calling for a moratorium on the use of the WRB.
MAG-NZ is committed to campaigning against these lethal devices. MAG-UK has had success in getting new installations of these biker killing barriers stopped and existing ones made safer, and with their support and assistance MAG-NZ will do the same.
Wire Rope Barriers were first installed in NZ in 1988 and each year sees increasing use of these unsafe barriers. These barriers are dangerous and not just to bikers. Trucks go over them as was proved the day after Daniel Evans was killed. A truck crossed over the median Wire Rope Barrier and into oncoming traffic, seriously injuring 2 innocent car passengers and causing major delays to commuters on the motorway system.
Cars can go under them, as illustrated by this picture. 
These barriers are worse than merely unsafe for motorcyclists - they substantially increase the risk of serious harm even at moderate collision speeds by increasing the risk of dismemberment or decapitation. 85% of motorcyclists hitting these barriers at over 70kmh lose a limb. Indeed, from a bikers point of view, wire and metal crash barriers are an extremely dangerous obstacle, that can turn a fall into a fatal accident. Research has shown that the posts supporting the barrier are the main impact point. A piece of research even describes how, during an accident, an I shaped post sliced through a crash helmet like a knife through butter, resulting in the instant death of the motorcyclist.
Have a look at a cross section of these posts.
IPE post (fig 1), Cheap to build, they also present the most aggressive edges to riders.
Sigma (fig 2-4), Z- or C- shaped posts are an easy improvement to the IPE 100. Less aggressive in aspect, they still represent a danger to a fallen motorcyclist.
NZTA (NZ Transport Authority) assurances that they have taken motorcyclists' concerns seriously can not be given any credence as they state that international research shows wire rope median barriers were no more dangerous to motorcyclists than other types. If this is the case why have Norway banned them altogether? Belgium is ripping a section out every year until they're all gone, Victoria is looking at banning them, The Netherlands has banned them and in France they all have to be filled in with a plastic tube called "Moto-tub". In fact MAG-NZ believe that these assurances are to cover up the fact that in many instances NZTA are not installing these barriers to international best practice, and in direct contravention of their own policies. Table 7.1 of NZTA State Highway Geometric Design Manual specifies minimum offsets from the traffic lane depending on speed. This distance is 2m at 100 km/h. However, minimum deflection of 3m should be assumed for a wire rope barrier, because at a 2m offset the car would extend 1m into the opposing lane. So a minimum of 3m from the edge line should be allowed. If the barrier is located on a central median then you need 3m either side. Sadly, they are seldom installed to these standards.
They are primarily used as dividing median barriers but more and more we are seeing them installed on the sides of roads as well, taking away any chance a biker has of avoiding a head on collision. When faced with an oncoming vehicle on our side of the road, our only option is to hit the cheesecutter on the side of the road. No option at all.
Take the time to read this simple statement;
We are concerned about the safety of wire traffic barriers and their increasing presence on New Zealand roads and highways. We urge the NZTA and the Ministry of Transport to place a moratorium on the use of such barriers until a comprehensive review is undertaken into the effectiveness and safety of wire traffic barriers to all road users, particularly motorcyclists.
It is our petition to Parliament. How can you help MAG-NZ? Sign the online petition, download a copy from here and collect signatures. Let’s get these dangerous, biker maiming and killing devices stopped!
