Citation

Temmerman P, Roynard M. Transp. Res. Proc. 2016; 14: 4218-4227.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publications)

DOI

10.1016/j.trpro.2016.05.393

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The main objectives of this study were to obtain an objective measure of the unrestraint speed driven by motorcyclists on several road types in Belgium and to compare their speed with that of car drivers and with the speed limits. The speed of the motorcyclists was measured by using handheld speed guns. Measurements were conducted at over 300 locations scattered all over Belgium. All motorcycles passing these locations were measured, and, as a control group, the speed of one car after each observed motorcycle was measured as well. Seven different road types were distinguished: 30 km/h (zone 30), 30 km/h (school zone), 50 km/h, 70 km/h, 90 km/h (single lane), 90 km/h (double lane) and 120 km/h (highways). Only locations without particular properties or infrastructural measures that could impede the driven speed were chosen. The mean free speed, the 85th percentile of free speed (V85) and the frequency of speed infringements were calculated for the control group (passenger cars) and for two different types of powered two-wheelers: motorbikes and motorscooters. Only the observations where the driver could freely choose its speed were used. On all road types, the V85 values based on free speed measures of all three vehicle types are above the speed limit. Except in zones 30 and on highways, the V85 values for motorbikes are 6 to 8 km/h higher than those for cars. The share of motorcyclists exceeding the 70 km/h speed limit with more than 10 km/h is twice as large the share of car drivers committing the same offence. Only on highways, motorcyclists did not commit more speed infringements than car drivers. The study reveals that excessive speed is a widespread problem among motorcyclists, even more than among car drivers. The average free speed of motorcyclists on 50 to 90 km/h roads was significantly higher than that of car drivers (control group).

Language: en