State removes some rider safety barriers

[ruSTynutz]

Changes to lower rub rail rules

Lower rub rails on safety barriers that are important for the safety of riders have proliferated in recent years, but now the
Queensland Government is removing some where they trap wildlife on the road.

You could be forgiven for thinking that riders’ lives are considered less important than the lives of snakes, wallabies, possums,
echidnas and bandicoots.

However, many lower “W beam” rub rails have been installed on benign straight stretches and the inside of curves, rather than
the outside where riders are far more likely to crash.

Lower rub rails are about to be removed on a stretch of Gold Coast hinterland road to protect wildlife that is being trapped on
the road and run over.

The rails are considered important in the event of a motorcycle crash as they prevent the rider hitting the lethal upright posts.

But a lot of money has been wasted over the years installing rub rails on sections where riders are highly unlikely to crash.

The money would be better spent installing the rails on more dangerous sections.

The Queensland Government’s Transport and Main Roads department is now believed to be rewriting its rules on rub rails.

Their first move will be to remove rub rails from sections every 2-300m in an eight-kilometre stretch of Beaudesert-Nerang
Road at Witheren and Clagiraba, a popular motorcycle route to Beechmont and the Numinbah Valley.

This is an area where many wildlife have been killed because they are trapped on the road by the rub rails which are too
close to the ground to squeeze through.

The rails are also so close to the ground that the grass and general debris has now blocked the natural drainage and water
is retained on the road, increasing the risk to all vehicles of aquaplaning.

Transport and Main Roads south coast regional director Paul Noonan said in a statement that they have “worked extensively
with engineering and road safety professionals to balance the need for guardrail to protect motorists and providing safe
access for wildlife in the area”.

“A lot of analysis has been done to solve this problem, and I’m pleased to say we have a solution,” he says.

Work to remove the rails begins this month before the koala breeding season starts.

Let’s hope the rails are put to better use elsewhere...

Source: https://motorbikewriter.com/state-removes-some-rider-safety-barriers/

[Biggles]

Surely there is a balance point of a gap about 150mm below the metal where small animals and debris can get through but a bike and rider wouldn't.  In fact, that photo looks to have that gap, so maybe 250mm could be tried.  Intelligent, analysis and compromise appear to be in short supply in some vital areas of administration.  That is borne out by the fact they put them on straight stretches.

[ruSTynutz]

The trouble with increasing the gap is it opens up the possibility of a rider's limbs slipping under in an accident, increasing the chance of even more injuries...

Getting of topic a little, I find it bizarre that Vicroads use "ribbed" rub rails, which, one would think would increase the chances of injuries compared to a flat rail as shown in the pic above.