BMF call for rubbish roads clean-up.
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Britain’s roads are so littered with road debris such as broken glass, metal, gravel and other rubbish, that they are a real and constant danger to motorcyclists and cyclists say the BMF. Based on 2005 figures, properly swept roads could have prevented 1,565 accidents and saved 36 lives say Britain’s largest rider group, the 100,000 strong British Motorcyclists Federation. Further, say the BMF, more accidents (6.3 per cent) are caused by road debris than the 4 per cent of motorcycle accidents that the Department for Transport attribute to excessive speed. The BMF has produced a ‘Rubbish Roads Ahead’ booklet and is now writing to every local highway authority urging them to clean-up the areas of carriageway near pavements, on the crown of the road and on the outside of corners and bends; in other words, the areas unused by other vehi cles but prone to use by two wheeled vehicles. Motorcycles and pedal cycles have a very small contact patch between the road and the tyre say the BMF so even a small amount of loose material can cause a loss of traction. Road sweeping is a simple and effective method of road safety improvement that could save dozens of lives and prevent expensive and time-consuming litigation for highway authorities say the BMF. More : politics.co.uk |