This document is the outcome of the PIARC Special Project on Motorcycle Protection Systems and Safety Aspects of the Management of Traffic for Motorcycles, conducted under the framework of the PIARC Strategic Plan 2024–2027. The study was initiated by the World Road Association (PIARC) in response to the continuing global challenge of improving the safety of powered two-wheeler users, who remain one of the most vulnerable groups of road users worldwide.
The content of this report has been prepared by a multidisciplinary team of experts from the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (UL-FME) and the University of Maribor, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Architecture (UM-FCTA), with oversight from the designated PIARC Technical Committee. The authors were appointed based on their expertise in motorcycle safety, roadside infrastructure, traffic engineering, biomechanics, and traffic accident research.
The purpose of this report is to provide evidence-based knowledge, case studies, and recommendations that can support PIARC member countries in addressing motorcyclist safety through both infrastructure measures (e.g., crash cushions, upper guardrail protections) and traffic management strategies (e.g., lane splitting, lane sharing, dedicated motorcycle lanes, advanced stop lanes, filtering). The scope of the study includes literature reviews, international surveys, stakeholder interviews, and numerical/experimental analyses.
This publication forms part of PIARC’s broader mission to promote the Safe System approach and to contribute to the global vision of reducing road fatalities and serious injuries. By gathering and disseminating international experiences, it aims to foster mutual learning and support the development of context-appropriate solutions, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where motorcycles are a predominant mode of transport.